Ethnic minorities and Scottish nationalism


Aspirational pluralism in Scotland – all political parties see ethnic/racial minorities as essential to Scottish society.  Minorities find it easy to feel Scottish, and are more likely to identify as such than minorities in England.  This is in part because Scotland is smaller, also because language is not key to Scottish identity cf Catalunya, Quebec.  There is also identification with the imperial experience, in as much as Scotland is perceived as a victim of English imperialism (despite the key role played by Scots in imperialist expansion!).
There is not a strong minority voice in Scotland for recognition or privilege – luckily, as sectarian history unlikely to favour further state sponsored isolationism, and the pluralist dream might stumble on the contradictions between democracy and multiculturalism.


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