Devolution - Scottish Answers to Scottish Questions?

by Bromley, Catherine; Curtice, John; Hinds, Kerstin; Park, Alison

• ISBN13: 9780748618088
• ISBN10: 0748618082
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-14
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

Has Devolution reconnected Scots to the political process? One of the core aims of the Scottish Parliament was that it would provide "Scottish Answers to Scottish Questions." Written by the leading figures in the field, this book asks how far that aim has been fulfilled, providing an independent, dispassionate account of what Scots think about some of the major social, moral and political questions being faced by Scottish policymakers and society.Looking at what Scots make of their experience of devolution so far, it asks whether the policies pursued by the Scottish Parliament have been in tune with Scottish public opinion, and how far differences in attitudes within Scotland reflect traditional social divisions. Community care, housing, drugs and the devolution project itself have been the subject of recent public and political controversy -- attitudes towards these issues are explored in the first part of the book. The second part focuses on a number of key divisions within Scottish society including religion, class, age, national identity and asks how far these are reflected in differences in social and political attitudes among Scots. Based on the annual Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, this book presents a unique and authoritative insight to the state of public opinion in post-devolution Scotland.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	vii
Foreword	ix
Gordon Brewer
Notes on the Contributors	xv
Introduction	1	(6)
Devolution: Scorecard and Prospects	7	(23)
Catherine Bromley
John Curtice
Does the Community Care?	30	(19)
Lisa Curtice
Alison Petch
Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities	49	(26)
Ade Kearns
Alison Parkes
Attitudes Towards Illegal Drugs Use	75	(11)
Maria Gannon
Neil McKeganey
Gordon Hay
Kerstin Hinds
Religious Beliefs and Differences	86	(30)
Steve Bruce
Tony Glendinning
Identity Matters: The Personal and Political Significance of Feeling Scottish	116	(21)
Michael Rosie
Ross Bond
A Classless Society? Social Attitudes and Social Class	137	(24)
Paula Surridge
Disengaged Individualists? Young People in Scotland	161	(22)
Alison Park
Kerstin Hinds
Conclusion	183	(5)
Technical Appendix	188	(13)
Index	201