The leading Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine will examine the myths and beliefs that have identified Scotland over the last century and a half at a lecture in Aberdeen next week (Tuesday, February 1).
Professor Devine鈥檚 lecture, Scotland the Brave: Interpreting Scotland鈥檚 Identity, is the first in a major series, Talking Scots, organised by the 黑料网 to mark the new Millennium.
Prof Devine, Director of the University鈥檚 Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies, will discuss the view that the idea of Scotland as we know it today was actually born in the Victorian era, when some had confidently predicted the cultural dissolution of the nation within Great Britain.
鈥淚 will be looking at how and why a coherent sense of 鈥楽cottishness鈥� survived nearly three hundred years of close political, economic and cultural association with England, which for much of the period was one of the world鈥檚 most powerful states,鈥� he said.
鈥淪ome Scottish intellectuals of the later eighteenth century were convinced that with the new partnership with England forged in 1707 would come the inevitable 鈥榙eath of Scotland鈥�. A wide body of opinion expected Scotland as a nation to become invisible within the Union and Empire and the ancient land north of the Cheviots to emerge as 鈥楴orth Britain鈥�.
鈥淚ndeed, not only were the pessimists proved wrong, but many of the orthodox symbols, icons and badges of modern Scottish identity were actually invented and popularised in the nineteenth century when Scottish nationalism was at its weakest and the Union universally accepted. The lecture will explore this paradox and try to explain why it came about.鈥�
Professor Devine will also touch on the fact that in recent years, Scotland鈥檚 sense of identity has become much stronger and that Scots now feel more 鈥淪cottish鈥� than 鈥淏ritish鈥�, due in part to a much enhanced interest in Scotland鈥檚 history, culture and heritage.
鈥淭he coming of the new Parliament took place against a background of increasing national confidence and a flourishing of Scottish music, art, writing and film-making,鈥� he said.
鈥淪ome commentators argue that this strengthening of identity could have dramatic political consequences for the future as a resurgent Scottish nation demands even greater control over its own destiny than that presently on offer through the devolution settlement.鈥�
Prof Devine鈥檚 lecture will be the first in the six-part series, which includes lectures by some of Scotland鈥檚 most distinguished thinkers, who will share their views on Scotland鈥檚 future. They are: Edinburgh University Vice Chancellor Sir Stewart Sutherland; the Very Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan, Minister of St Giles鈥� Cathedral, Edinburgh; The Rt Hon Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General of Scotland; Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council chairman Magnus Linklater.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday, February 1, at 7pm in King鈥檚 Conference Centre. It will be followed by a wine reception. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained from the Public Relations Office on (01224) 272014, or by e-mail on talkingscots@abdn.ac.uk