The Concept(s) of Sovereignty in the Scottish Independence Debate

Sergiusz Bober

Published : 2014-12-30

Vol. 5 No. 13 (2014)

The Concept(s) of Sovereignty in the Scottish Independence Debate

Sergiusz Bober

Section: Thematic Articles

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze how the concept of sovereignty (the main theoretical category of this text) has been conceptualized/criticized/interpreted during the recent Scottish independence debate, which took place in the period preceding the independence referendum of 18 September 2014. This concept is closely related to the categories of independence and sovereign. The pronouncements on sovereignty present in the intellectual output of three groups are discussed: academics; politicians and political activists; and public intellectuals. An analysis of each type of discourse is produced with a concise partial conclusion, which in the final part are synthesized into a general thesis of the article. The majority of the discussed sources had been made public (i.e. published or presented) no earlier than in the Autumn of 2012. Among these sources there are non-fiction books (academic and essays), academic articles and presentations. This analysis has led to the following conclusions: sovereignty is perceived as relevant in the interdependent 21st century world, as states still remain capable (international pressures and cooperation notwithstanding) of shaping their internal and external policies. It is also generally accepted that the holder of sovereignty, especially in the Scottish case, is the Scottish nation. This assumption leads to calls for the reform of the British constitution, reconciling the existence of various sovereign nations in the United Kingdom, with the sovereignty of parliament.

Celem badawczym artykułu jest przeanalizowanie, w jaki sposób pojęcie suwerenność (główna kategoria teoretyczna tekstu) było konceptualizowane / krytykowane/ interpretowane podczas niedawnej szkockiej debaty niepodległościowej, trwającej w okresie poprzedzającym referendum z dnia 18 września 2014 roku. Pojęcie to jest ściśle powiązane z kategoriami niepodległość oraz suweren. Analizie poddane zostały wypowiedzi na temat suwerenności sformułowane przez przedstawicieli trzech grup: badaczy, polityków i osób zaangażowanych w politykę oraz liderów opinii. Analiza poszczególnych typów dyskursów została zakończona zwięzłymi wnioskami cząstkowymi, które w części końcowej zostały ujednolicone, przyjmując postać zasadniczej tezy artykułu. Zdecydowana większość wykorzystanych źródeł została upubliczniona (tj. opublikowana lub wygłoszona) nie wcześniej niż jesienią 2012 roku. Wśród nich znajdują się druki zwarte (książki akademickie i eseistyczne), artykuły akademickie oraz teksty wystąpień. Podjęte badania przyniosły następujące wnioski: suwerenność zachowuje swe znaczenie w realiach gęstej globalizacji pierwszych dekad XXI wieku, gdyż państwa wciąż dysponują (niezależnie od konieczności współpracy międzynarodowej czy presji czynników zewnętrznych różnego typu) instrumentami umożliwiającymi kształtowanie ich polityki zewnętrznej i wewnętrznej. Szeroko akceptowane jest także twierdzenie wskazujące, że suwerenem w warunkach szkockich jest szkocki naród. To pociąga za sobą głosy opowiadające się za reformą brytyjskiego ustroju, godzącą zasadę suwerenności parlamentu z suwerennością poszczególnych brytyjskich narodów.

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