International Courant
-Scotland prevented far-right violence seen in different components of UK, says political scientist
-Scotland’s climate and distinctive civic id helped stop far-right riots, explains John Curtice, political science professor
LONDON
The latest wave of far-right violence that erupted throughout components of the UK following a lethal knife assault within the city of Southport didn’t unfold to Scotland, regardless of unrest in England, Wales, and Northern Eire.
In accordance with John Curtice, a political scientist on the College of Strathclyde in Glasgow, a number of elements contributed to Scotland’s avoidance of such violence.
In an unique interview with Anadolu, Curtice highlighted that the message of far-right teams utilizing “Britishness” as a nationwide id had little impression in Scotland.
“Individuals who prioritize their id as English are typically people who find themselves extra socially conservative on immigration, Islam, variety usually,” he defined.
He added that in England, Britishness is offered as a civic and multicultural id. In Scotland, nonetheless, the main target is on selling Scottishness as a civic id.
“In Scotland, as a result of the SNP (ruling Scottish Nationwide Celebration) are a civic nationalist social gathering, they’ve lengthy promoted Scottishness as a civic id, and other people from minority background in Scotland who, in the event that they establish as something, will are inclined to establish Scottish, not as British,” he defined.
“However the level is that north of the border, hardly anyone identifies as English, and that is the purpose in regards to the English Protection League,” Curtice mentioned, referring to a presumably defunct far-right Islamophobic group, however whose views could also be typical of lots of the far-right figures who unfold violence within the wake of the July 29 Southport assault, utilizing misinformation that blamed the assault on a Muslim asylum seeker.
Much less polarization round immigration
Curtice additionally highlighted that Scotland’s a lot smaller Muslim inhabitants in comparison with England performs a major position.
With solely about 3-4% of Scotland’s inhabitants figuring out as Muslim, in comparison with 7-8% in England, far-right teams in Scotland see minorities as much less of a so-called “menace.”
He additionally pointed to Scotland’s political local weather, the place immigration is much less of a polarizing situation.
That is partly as a result of immigration insurance policies are dealt with by the UK Parliament, and the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) has little involvement, in line with Curtice.
Moreover, Scotland not too long ago had distinguished Muslim leaders, together with former First Minister Humza Yousaf and Labour Celebration chief Anas Sarwar, which Curtice famous as important.
“Scotland is probably uncommon in having very distinguished examples of people that establish as Muslim who’re effectively and really a part of Scottish society, Scottish political debate, and so on.,” he noticed.
Lastly, Curtice pointed to an on a regular basis issue that will have had in discouraging out of doors gatherings – specifically, poor climate.
Although teams of individuals are extra prone to congregate exterior in the summertime, this summer season in Scotland has been colder and wetter than normal, which implies folks have been much less prone to collect exterior.
“You place all this collectively, and I feel the reality is the circumstances and the spark north of the border are simply haven’t got the identical resonance,” mentioned Curtice.
*Written by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul
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