ESRC: Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change launched
The ESRC Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change, formally launched today, represents a significant boost to the debate on the future of Scotland.
Led by Professor Michael Keating, one of Scotland’s foremost scholars on devolution and constitutional politics, the centre will provide academic research and analysis to help inform the referendum debate, and analyse the constitutional options in the event of either a Yes or a No vote. The centre's evidence and insights are readily available to all governments and campaigns.
With its hub at the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change brings together leading scholars from political science, economics, law and sociology from the Universities of Aberdeen, Stirling and Strathclyde and Edinburgh, and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research. It is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of the Future of the UK and Scotland programme.
Over the course of two years, the centre will examine:
Different constitutional scenarios, including independence, the status quo and enhanced devolution
Scotland’s relations with the rest of the UK and the European Union
Scotland’s defence and security challenges
Currency options for an independent Scotland
Modelling Scotland’s economic prospects under different constitutional scenarios
Social and economic policy options for Scotland in the light of future economic and demographic challenges
Attitudes and behaviour of citizens and business people facing choices over the country’s future
The projects will also place Scotland in a comparative context, examining other countries where similar issues have been posed. These include small, independent states, stateless nations and federal countries.
The centre’s director Professor Michael Keating commented:
"We know that citizens in Scotland want to know more about independence and its alternatives before casting their votes. There is a lot of information out there but much of it is highly politicized or expressed in very technical language. We will present the issues in a form accessible to citizens and put forward impartial analysis. From the meetings we have had already around Scotland, it is clear that citizens are not greatly interested in abstract, legalistic arguments about the constitution but are deeply concerned about the future of the nation and the economic and social challenges that it faces. We will seek to connect the constitutional debate with these pressing concerns and to show how Scotland is facing some of the same challenges as other societies in Europe and beyond."
ESRC Press Office:
Sarah Nichols
Email: sarah.nichols@esrc.ac.uk
Telephone: 01793 413122
Notes for editors
The principal researchers are available to comment on any of the relevant issues. They are:
Project Directors
Professor Michael Keating
Email: m.keating@abdn.ac.uk
Can do interviews in English, French, Spanish and Italian
Telephone: 07758 329876
Dr Nicola McEwan
Email: n.mcewen@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: 07900 084232
Economics
Professor David Bell (University of Stirling)
Email: d.n.f.bell@stir.ac.uk
Telephone: 07720 440835
Professor Peter McGregor (University of Strathclyde, Fraser of Allander Institute)
Email: p.mcgregor@strath.ac.uk
Telephone: 07963 366802
Professor Kim Swales (University of Strathclyde, Fraser of Allander Institute)
Email: j.k.swales@strath.ac.uk
Dr Katerina Lisenkova (NIESR)
Email: k.lisenkova@niesr.ac.uk
Telephone: 07913 444808
Dr Angus Armstrong (NIESR)
Email: a.armstrong@niesr.ac.uk
Telephone: 07969 740428
Politics and Public Policy
Professor Michael Keating (University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh)
Email: m.keating@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone: 07758 329876
Dr Nicola McEwen (University of Edinburgh)
Email: n.mcewen@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: 07900 084232
Professor Paul Cairney (University of Stirling)
Email: p.a.cairney@stir.ac.uk
Telephone: 07502 081411
Political and Economic Behaviour
Professor Ailsa Henderson (University of Edinburgh)
Email: ailsa.henderson@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: 07929 587060
Professor Liam Delaney (University of Stirling)
Email: liamdelaney2011@gmail.com
Telephone: 07933 422654
Defence and Security
Dr Colin Fleming (University of Edinburgh)
Email: colin.fleming@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: 07908 275801
Law
Professor Stephen Tierney (University of Edinburgh)
Email: stephen.tierney@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: 07565 028352
Social Policy
Professor Kirstein Rummery (University of Stirling)
Email: kirstein.rummery@stir.ac.uk
Telephone: 07896 925196
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