Party, Movement, and Representation of Independence Supporters in Scotland
P3-05
Presented by: Michael Heaney
Political parties and social movements are different but overlapping forms of political representation for supporters of a cause. While parties and movements may seek some of the same objectives, they usually diverge consiriably in their preferred tactics and aproaches to politics. Scotland provides an excellent case in point whether the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish independence movement each seek to promote the Scotland's separation from the United Kingdom. This paper examines new data collected as part of the 2021 Scottish Election Study to examine differences between movement activists and party activists in their attitudes and political behavior. Preliminary data analysis shows a close alignment between the two groups in their expressed national identities (epecially favoring "Scottish" over "British") but variance concerning their preferred routes to independence. Party activists register a greater approval of traditional, institutional channels, with movement activists leaning toward greater confrontation with state authorities. The results are informative to understanding both the nature of interest representation and to the politics of Scotland and the United Kingdom.