Scottish Nationalist Constitutional Thought: A Very British Radicalism?

The paper examines the development of Scottish nationalist constitutional thought - specifically looking at: (i) selective borrowing from Scandinavian and Commonwealth constitutionalism, whilst simultaneously repudiating, reforming, and replicating, orthodox British constitutional doctrines; (ii) the apparent contrast between radicalism (e.g. the centrality of the idea of popular sovereignty to Scottish nationalist constitutional thought, and the emergence of 'ethical constitutionalism', expressed through commitment to values and principles) and 'British incrementalism' in terms of specific institutional proposals. It is interesting to look at how - at least since the 2010 and 2011 elections - the Scottish constitutional conversation has diverged from, but continues to be influenced by, the UK-wide constitutional conversation at Westminster.