The history of Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom is inextricably linked to the history of Empire; one of the key justifications for the 1707 Act of Union was to allow Scotland to trade with England’s expanding colonial empire. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Scotland was at the forefront of British colonial expansion, sending colonial administrators, troops, and missionaries in service of Britain’s imperial project.
Now though, the British Empire is no more; the percentage of those adhering to a “British” identity in Scotland is decreasing; and Scottish nationalism and support for independence is rising. In light of this, how can Scotland engage with its imperial legacy, and how might the Scottish nationalist movement approach the sensitive issues of Scotland’s colonial past? How can a former imperial country such as Scotland approach the language of national liberation?
In this episode, Dr. Eva Schalbroeck and Edan Simpson speak with Professor Nigel Leask and Dr Ewan Gibbs to explore Scotland’s imperial history, how the dual Scottish-British identity affects colonial memory, and they delve into Scotland's imperial baggage and how it is connected to proposals to end the Union of the United Kingdom.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
• How much is the history of the British Empire also Scotland’s history?
• Is it appropriate for proponents of Scottish nationalism to use the language of imperial resistance in relation to the Independence movement?
• Does the dominant position of England within the United Kingdom provide a convenient scapegoat for Scottish/Irish/Welsh involvement in Empire?
Check out Ewan’s new book ‘Coal Country. The Meaning and Memory of Deindustrialisation in Postwar Scotland’ https://www.history.ac.uk/publications/ihr-books-series/new-historical-perspectives/coal-country-meaning-and-memory-deindustrialization-postwar-scotland-ewan-gibbs
Check out Nigel’s collaborative exhibition and book of the same title with The Hunterian ‘Old Ways New Roads: Travels in Scotland 1720-1832’ for links to the book and recordings of the featured talks. https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/exhibitions/virtualexhibitions/oldwaysnewroads/
ABOUT
Brought to you by the UGlobe Decolonisation Group
Hosted by Eva Schalbroeck and Edan Simpson
Sound by Rachel Gillett and Malina Yallanki
Music by CarlosCarty (CC-BY-3.0)
Production assistance from Rachel Gillett and Malina Yallanki
Special thanks to our guests Professor Nigel Leask and Dr Ewan Gibbs
