SNP, identity and citizenship: Re-imagining state and nation

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has been strongly critical of attempts to resuscitate British national identity and has sought to present an alternative Scottish cultural and political identity that is projected as ‘wholly civic’. However, questions persist as to how the SNP understand concepts such as citizenship and nationality and the extent to which their civic nationalism is reflected empirically in speeches and policies, particularly since forming a minority Scottish government in 2007. This article seeks to explore how the SNP and other Scottish separatists construct an independent Scottish state, nation and people. In particular, it will assess how Scottish separatists address Scottish nationality, multi-nationality and also its transnational imperial legacy.