The Politics of Immigration in Scotland

Pro-immigrant advocacy has become a critical element of nationalism and nation-building in Scotland, as it serves Scotland's moral and strategic interests and distinguishes it from England. This book examines the central features of Scotland's social and political environment that provide an opportunity for the development of pro-immigration policy preferences and evaluates how well they are communicated. It also analyses the elite and mass divergence in understandings of Scottish identity and the desirability of immigration and presents recommendations for how Scottish leaders can bridge the gap.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

While some nationalists around the world express concerns about immigration potentially diluting their national culture, pro-immigrant advocacy has emerged as a crucial aspect of nationalism and nation-building in Scotland. The endorsement of immigration and diversity at the elite level holds significant value for Scotland's moral and strategic interests, serving as a symbol of its distinctiveness from England. This distinction justifies arguments for further devolution or, ultimately, independence. This book delves into the central factors within Scotland's social and political landscape that foster the development of pro-immigration policy preferences. It employs quantitative and qualitative analysis of primary and secondary data to evaluate the effectiveness of communication of these preferences. Furthermore, the book examines the elite and mass divergences in perceptions of Scottish identity and the desirability of immigration, which pose challenges to the implementation of the government's multicultural policies. It provides illustrative examples of these differences and offers recommendations for how Scottish leaders can bridge the gap.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474491587