Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland, 1500 - 2000

by Colin Kidd

Although the dominant political ideology in Scotland between 1707 and the present, unionism has suffered serious neglect. Colin Kidd looks afresh at this central theme in Britain's history, politics and law, and traces the history of Scottish unionist ideas from the early sixteenth century to the present day. Colin Kidd demonstrates that unionism had impeccably indigenous origins long predating the Union of 1707, and that it emerged in reaction to the English vision of Britain as an empire. Far from being the antithesis of nationalism, Scottish unionism largely occupied a middle ground between assimilation to England or separation from it.

322 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2008

About the author

Colin Craig Kidd, FBA, FRHistS, FSA Scot, FRSE, is a historian specialising in American and Scottish history. He is currently Professor of History at University of St. Andrews, after serving as Professor of Intellectual History and the History of Political Thought at Queen's University Belfast, where he has worked after leaving the University of Glasgow in 2010.

Reviews

[Peter McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit old by now, but still a very good survey. Particularly useful for linking intellectual and political history to ecclesiastical history, which is still not done with sufficient frequency in Scottish history writing. (I think the most recent major book published about the Disruption is from the 90s—unbelievable!) MacCormick Sr does not feature enough in the last chapter for my liking.