Before the independence referendum in 2014, the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond promised a written constitution for Scotland in the event of a 'Yes' vote. The UK is almost unique in having never adopted a written constitution or other fundamental law. Why did this commitment arise in Scotland?
A comparative study of the Scottish nationalist constitutional tradition The rise of the Scottish national movement has been accompanied by the emergence of distinct constitutional ideas, claims and arguments - but the literature on constitutional design in Scotland is currently sparse. Drawing on the fields of constitutional theory, comparative constitutional law and Scottish studies, this volume examines the historical trajectory of the constitutional question in Scotland and analyses the influences and constraints on the constitutional imagination of the Scottish national movement, in terms of both the national and international contexts. It identifies an emerging Scottish nationalist constitutional tradition that is distinct from British constitutional orthodoxies but nevertheless corresponds to broad global trends in constitutional thought and design. Much of the book is devoted to the detailed exposition and comparative analysis of the draft constitution for an independent Scotland published by the SNP in 2002. The 2014 draft interim Constitution presented by the Scottish Government is also examined, and the two texts are contrasted to show the changing nature of the SNP's constitutional policy: from liberal-procedural constitutionalism in pursuit of a more inclusive polity, to a more populist and majoritarian constitutionalism. W. Elliot Bulmer holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Glasgow. Previously the Research Director of the Constitutional Commission in Scotland (2009-13), he is now part of the Constitution Building Processes team for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in The Hague. His previous works include A Model Constitution for Scotland (2011) and A Constitution for the Common Good (2014). Cover images: (c) nubumbim/iStockphoto.com Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-0-7486-9759-5 Barcode
