The Politics of Immigration in Scotland
- Presents Scotland as a key test case for the marriage of nationalist sentiments and cosmopolitan identities
- Addresses ongoing public debates about minority integration and multiculturalism in Western democracies and the potential power of local or national political elites to steer rhetoric
- Engages with primary and secondary sources of data (ex. survey data, newspaper coverage) and employs varied methodological tools to achieve insight into the nature of public discourse on immigration
- Utilises comparative data to support or reject claims of Scottish exceptionalism
- Uses case studies from specific Scottish immigration and integration policies
- Features unique qualitative data from a number of interviews with Scottish migration policy stakeholders in 2016 and 2019
At a time when many European nationalist movements are attempting to preserve their culture by rejecting immigration and diversification, openness to immigration and diversity is a central political strategy for Scottish nation building, making Scotland a key case study for how nationalist sentiments and cosmopolitan identities can join together. This book discusses whether the pro-immigration strategies implemented by the Scottish political leadership could be employed elsewhere, addressing ongoing public debates about minority integration and multiculturalism in Western democracies, and the potential power of local or national political elites to steer rhetoric against anti-immigrant forces.
Introduction: The Political Context of a Unique Scottish Approach to Migration
Conclusion: The Prospects for Attracting and Retaining Migrants in Scotland
This welcome book is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical origins, political dynamics, party positioning and public attitudes on migration in Scotland. It helps explain the distinctive brand of civic nationalism espoused by political elites, and how it relates to less effusive public attitudes on migration. It should be essential reading for scholars and policy-makers working on migration politics and multi-level politics, and will also be a compelling and accessible read for non-experts with an interest in this hugely important topic.
