Scottish republicanism

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Scottish republicanism (Scottish Gaelic: Poblachdas na h-Alba) is an ideology based on the belief that Scotland should be a republic, as opposed to being under the monarchy of the United Kingdom. This is usually proposed through either Scotland becoming an independent republic, or being part of a reformed Britain.

Although this is not explicitly part of the independence movement, support for a republic is most often through pro-independence organisations who advocate for Scotland to become an independent state with a democratically elected head of state, instead of the status quo in which the head of state is the British monarch.

History

Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun is one of the most prominent pre-Union advocates of a Scottish republic, based on agrarian and patriarchal principles.[1] He was a major inspiration to Scottish Enlightenment philosopher Adam Ferguson, whose republican ideals were penned down in An Essay on the History of Civil Society (1767).[1]

One of the foremost documentations of modern Scottish republicanism is the Declaration of Calton Hill, proclaimed on 9 October 2004, the same day that queen Elizabeth II opened the new Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood.[2]

In the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum, the Radical Independence Campaign advocated an independent Scottish republic with an elected head of state,[3] instead of the continued union of crowns established with the English monarchy, predating the Acts of Union.

Republicanism within the Independence Movement

Many people who advocate Scotland becoming a republic do so through their support for Scottish independence. This would entail Scotland becoming independent from the United Kingdom and instead of continuing the Union of Crowns that predate the political union, a republic would be formed, with an elected president assuming the role of the deposited monarch.

Most of the major political parties and organisations that advocate Scottish independence also advocate Scotland becoming an independent republic. These include:

Scotland's largest pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party, is not explicitly ideologically republican, though a large number of republican members exist, including Roseanna Cunningham, Christine Grahame, Rob Gibson and Natalie McGarry.

British republicanism

Another concept for Scotland becoming a republic is through reform of the United Kingdom's constitutional status from a constitutional monarchy to a republican constitution. There is not an explicit link with British unionism, as this tends to advocate the Union of Crowns. This is a form of British republicanism which is supported by English politicians such as Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn, and advocacy groups such as Republic. There is not mainstream support for this concept in any Scottish political parties, and remains a personal position, unlike support for an independent Scottish republic which does have party support. Adam Tomkins is an example of a republican who supports a reformed Britain without monarchy[4], however his opinion shifted after being elected for the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party who are ardent supports of monarchy.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 van Gelderen, Martin; Skinner, Quentin (2005). Republicanism: A Shared European Heritage. Volume 2: The Values of Republicanism in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 197. ISBN 9780521672344. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Lorna Martin (10 October 2004). "Holyrood survives birth pains". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Radicals' new dawn with independence". The Herald. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Republic: Supporters". Republic. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  5. ↑ "From Roundhead to Cavalier: how Tory Scottish Secretary's advisor wanted to axe the Royal family".
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