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This article seeks to offer suggestive reflections on the independence referendum that took place in Scotland in 2014. The historic popular vote on Scotland’s status as a constituent nation of the United Kingdom was one of the most important political decisions that have taken place in the three hundred years since the Treaty of Union between the Parliaments of England and Scotland in 1707. How and why did Scotland come to have such an unprecedented poll? To understand both the deeper roots and the immediate context of the debate about Scottish independence we need to consider the historical evolution of Scottish politics and the nature of Scottish nationalism. In order to do this we must examine these within the context of the origins and transformation of Scottish and British identities. It is important to acknowledge, however, that the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign for independence was not based upon identity politics. Pro-independence arguments were rather focused upon progressive governance and a liberal, inclusive, and pluralist vision of Scottish politics and society. The article concludes by offering some brief discussion of the impact and likely legacies of the Scottish referendum for the United Kingdom.
