Minority influence in Scotland.
For quite some time, I’ve been interested in the dynamic of Scottish politics and the overwhelming influence of the SNP. The main aim of the SNP party has always been to gain independence for Scotland however in 2014, the Scottish people voted against Scottish independence with a 55% majority. Yet despite this, the independence movement has continued to be at the forefront of Scottish politics. In the 2021 Scottish elections, on the back of a manifesto pledge to pursue another independence referendum, the SNP won an overall majority in the Scottish parliament securing Sturgeon’s role as First Minister for a further four years and just recently she has been named as the UK’s most influential woman.
When taking into consideration individual votes for pro independence parties and pro union parties, the data suggests that the country could be at a very close 50/50 split. This is an undeniable improvement on the pro independence 45% in 2014. What I find interesting about the SNP, is that despite a questionable record in Scotland, their independence movement has continued to gather strength. Could psychology explain more about the influence of a minority?
“It is minorities, groups who are excluded from or are on the fringes of society, that are the main engines of social change.” (Moscovci, 1976)
