The movement for a Scottish nation independent of Great Britain

This study has examined the political and social relationships between Scotland and England, why the two countries united, what kept them united, and why union may no longer be in the best interest of Scotland. It contains a brief history of Scotland in order to illustrate the profound differences that have always marked relations between the two countries. It covers the beginnings of party politics in Scotland in the 19th and 20th centuries and how nationalism remained alive in Scotland despite their perceived second-fiddle status to England. It describes the economic and political implications of the discovery of North Sea oil, its role in the politics of the island and its potential for bankrolling Scotland’s future. Finally, the paper demonstrates that Scotland has an opportunity to regain its independence from England should the Scottish government assert itself.Department of Political ScienceThesis (M.A.