Author (Person) | Cairney, Paul, Widfeldt, Anders |
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Series Title | Regional and Federal Studies |
Series Details | Vol.25, No.1, February 2015, p1-18 |
Publication Date | February 2015 |
ISSN | 1359-7566 |
Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog |
Abstract: The idea of ‘new politics' in Scotland, in the 1990s, was based on a rejection of the ‘majoritarian’ politics of ‘old Westminster’ in favour of a ‘consensus democracy’ associated with Scandinavian countries. Yet, the nascent literature suggests that Scottish and UK policy-making practices are similar. UK policy making does not live up to its majoritarian reputation and Scotland was designed with key ‘old Westminster’ features. We extend the comparison to Sweden, as one of several, distinctive, Nordic reference points in Scotland. We examine critically its consensual image and identify the ways in which Scotland has similar features. The study helps clarify the practical meaning of majoritarian and consensus and encourages scholars to focus on actual behaviour rather than policy-making reputations. It also informs current debates on Scotland's future, using long-term evidence to inform recent attempts to revive this focus on the Nordic ideal. |
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Source Link | Link to Main Source http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2014.958818 |
Countries / Regions | Sweden, United Kingdom |