Scotland's road to the future

Abstract

Scotland’s independence referendum was a watershed both for Scotland and the UK. In Scotland, democratic and political engagement has been dramatically altered. The idea of independence has become normalised and mainstream and distinct from the SNP’s compromised version. Within the UK as a whole, the multiple and deep-seated crises of the British state have been further highlighted which include its very nature and its role in the world. The contours of the 2015 Westminster and 2016 Scottish Parliament elections will be played out against uncertainty and doubt about the future of the union.