The Referendum that Changed a Nation
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"This book is short but very sweet, in electoral analysis terms. You can pick this book up and read it in one sitting, gain a ton of fascinating insights you didn't know, gain a depth of understanding about referenda in general and the Scottish referendum in particular, and learn lessons from the 2014 independence referendum and what has followed with all the implications still to come. Accessible and careful scholarship at its best." (- Jane Green , Professor of Political Science, University of Oxford, UK)"This outstanding book provides a wonderfully detailed but accessible analysis of the lasting significance of a seismic event in Scottish - and UK - politics, the 2014 independence referendum. Although the contest yielded a decisive 'no' to independence, the substantial Yes vote indicated how the issue split regions, communities and even families, divisions which have not diminished. The volume shows how Better Together opponents of independence emphasised the risks of leaving the of the union rather than rely upon unionist sentiment. The book considers the impacts of a variety of utterances, from politicians to those of Andy Murray and JK Rowling. Lasting significance lay not just in the referendum. Increased political engagement and a convergence of Westminster and Scottish Parliament voting preferences have been evident. Independence is the dominant political faultline, significantly more definitive even than Brexit, notwithstanding double soreness felt by 'Yes Remainers'. As the authors show, majorities on either side of the constitutional divide say they cannot vote for the political party seen as their main constitutional opponent. Packed with informative and authoritative data, The Referendum that Changed a Nation is a must-read for anyone who wants to enhance their understanding of contemporary Scottish politics and a constitutional debate which will not disappear anytime soon." (- Jon Tonge , Professor of Politics, University ofLiverpool, UK)
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Robert Johns is Professor of Politics at the University of Essex, UK.
Jac M. Larner is Lecturer in Politics at Cardiff University and Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Christopher J. Carman is Stevenson Professor of Citizenship at the University of Glasgow, UK.