Caledonian Dreaming by Gerry Hassan sampler
Caledonian Dreaming: The Quest for a Different Scotland offers a penetrating and original way forward for Scotland beyond the current independence debate. It identifies the myths of modern Scotland, describes what they say and why they need to be seen as myths. Hassan argues that Scotland is already changing, as traditional institutions and power decline and new forces emerge. He outlines a prospectus for Scotland to become more democratic and to embrace radical and far-reaching change.
Caledonian Dreaming: The Quest for a Different Scotland offers a penetrating and original way forward for Scotland beyond the current independence debate. It identifies the myths of modern Scotland, describes what they say and why they need to be seen as myths.
Hassan argues that Scotland is already changing, as traditional institutions and power decline and new forces emerge. He outlines a prospectus for Scotland to become more democratic and to embrace radical and far-reaching change.
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7<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
Any book like this is assisted and encouraged <strong>by</strong> a range of people who<br />
aid its slow process coming from a set of ideas to its final form. First and<br />
foremost, I would like to show my gratitude and pleasure at working with<br />
the fantastic team at Luath Press – Gavin MacDougall, Lydia Nowak,<br />
Laura Nicol and Tom Bee.<br />
Second, in terms of illustrations I would like to thank Tara Beall, <strong>Gerry</strong><br />
McCartney, Greg Moodie, Ross Sinclair and Oxfam Scotland for giving<br />
permission for work to be used. Third, in electoral facts and figures, Sarah<br />
Mackie of the Electoral Commission Scotland was an embodiment of<br />
professionalism and support. Fourth, I would like to give my thanks for<br />
their encouragement and contribution to this project: Anthony Barnett,<br />
Simon Barrow, Eleanor Bell, Paddy Bort, Ross Colquhoun, Phil Denning,<br />
Roanne Dods, David Donnison, Stephen Duncombe, Ian Fraser, Michael<br />
Gardiner, Doug Gay, Joe Lafferty, Marc Lambert, Steve Lambert, Gayle<br />
MacPherson, Doreen MacWhannell, Robin McAlpine, Allan McConnell,<br />
James McCormick, Ailsa McKay, Susan McPhee, James Mitchell, Ken<br />
Neil, Alison Park, Karine Polwart, David Purdy, Eileen Reid, Eddie Rice,<br />
Philip Schlesinger, Martin Sime, Nigel Smith, Francis Stuart, Willie Sullivan,<br />
David Torrance, Michael Torrance, Katherine Trebeck, Jean Urquhart,<br />
Andy Wightman and Eleanor Yule. Fifth, many thanks to Clara Young<br />
for permission to use Douglas Young’s poem.<br />
A special thanks and acknowledgement goes to Rosie Ilett who read<br />
and proofed the entire text at a near-final stage, and who was a source of<br />
inspiration and ideas throughout the course of this project.<br />
Finally, a word on the style of this book. It has been written not as a<br />
specialist or academic book for those in the know but for the general<br />
informed reader. Therefore, despite what some readers might think, I have<br />
deliberately gone out of my way to avoid using obscure phrases or too<br />
much jargon. I have also kept references to other works and publications<br />
to a minimum. References are only used when absolutely necessary, and<br />
the range included indicate the main immediate sources for this book for<br />
further reading.<br />
This book has been a pleasure to write and research, coming as it does<br />
at an august time, and also as the first in a series of books in the ‘Open<br />
Scotland’ series published <strong>by</strong> Luath. Many thanks for their commitment
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