Nationalism offers a simplistic way to understand a complex world. Those of us who oppose it need to be as good at offering people ways of feeling smart.
Another very good piece Blair and it needs to be read and digested much more widely among progressive non nationalists. A couple of points occur.
You rightly describe the emotional power of nationalism - the most powerful emotional force in politics today which props up dictators and propels the corrupt and incompetent to power.
Another advantage nationalists have is that they can offer a "clean slate" = a fresh start. Those of us who defend the union in some form are supporting something which exists, with all its imperfections. The nationalists project something new which can be exactly what you want and what everyone else wants even if that's completely different.
The implications of this for non nationalist leaders - in Scotland Labour and the Liberal Democrats as well as commentators and academics - are that we cannot just be positive but have to be prepared to critique the fantasies and lies of the nationalists , braving the inevitable cries of treachery. A start would be to junk the misleading and confusing term "independence" . There is no completely independent country in the world and hasn't been for a hundred years. Time to tell people that.
Excellent article Blair . Might I suggest that you do another on the source of the SNP’s support . I’m convinced that much of their support comes from those of Irish descent living in the central belt and who despise ‘the English’ . Eire with it’s EU membership may also have a hand in this …..all in an effort to break up the UK . Religious conflict is playing it’s part . For example I doubt very much if any Celtic FC supporter ever votes against the SNP ….and Sturgeon gleefully seeks their support . Conversely the supporters of Rangers FC apparently vote for the Union . SNP support is therefore divided down religious / tribal grounds ergo it has nothing to do with what is best for Scotland . All in all I believe that Sturgeon and the SNP are not driven by a wish to see Scotland as a modern , prosperous, economically sound nation but rather as a nation dependent on meagre benefits and run by a not so benign dictatorship . Kind regards .
Another very good piece Blair and it needs to be read and digested much more widely among progressive non nationalists. A couple of points occur.
You rightly describe the emotional power of nationalism - the most powerful emotional force in politics today which props up dictators and propels the corrupt and incompetent to power.
Another advantage nationalists have is that they can offer a "clean slate" = a fresh start. Those of us who defend the union in some form are supporting something which exists, with all its imperfections. The nationalists project something new which can be exactly what you want and what everyone else wants even if that's completely different.
The implications of this for non nationalist leaders - in Scotland Labour and the Liberal Democrats as well as commentators and academics - are that we cannot just be positive but have to be prepared to critique the fantasies and lies of the nationalists , braving the inevitable cries of treachery. A start would be to junk the misleading and confusing term "independence" . There is no completely independent country in the world and hasn't been for a hundred years. Time to tell people that.
Excellent article Blair . Might I suggest that you do another on the source of the SNP’s support . I’m convinced that much of their support comes from those of Irish descent living in the central belt and who despise ‘the English’ . Eire with it’s EU membership may also have a hand in this …..all in an effort to break up the UK . Religious conflict is playing it’s part . For example I doubt very much if any Celtic FC supporter ever votes against the SNP ….and Sturgeon gleefully seeks their support . Conversely the supporters of Rangers FC apparently vote for the Union . SNP support is therefore divided down religious / tribal grounds ergo it has nothing to do with what is best for Scotland . All in all I believe that Sturgeon and the SNP are not driven by a wish to see Scotland as a modern , prosperous, economically sound nation but rather as a nation dependent on meagre benefits and run by a not so benign dictatorship . Kind regards .