The Referendum that Changed a Nation: Scottish Voting Behaviour 2014-2019

by Ailsa Henderson, Robert Johns, Jac M. Larner, Christopher J. Carman

Overview

Drawing on data from the Scottish Referendum Study and subsequent Scottish Election Studies, this book provides the first in depth analysis of how voters engaged with the independence referendum in 2014 and what impact this has had on vote choice, polarisation and engagement in Scotland since then. The book contains eight chapters, and discusses how voters engaged with the referendum campaign, explains vote choice by examining reactions to the cues of parties, leaders and events, and compares the importance of these to calculations about risk.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783031160943
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	11/29/2022
Edition description:	1st ed. 2022
Pages:	201
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ailsa Henderson is Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

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.

Table of Contents

1. Studying Referendums and Voting in Scotland.- 2. The 2014 Referendum Campaign.- 3. How Voters Reacted to Campaign Cues.- 4. Explaining Referendum Vote Choice.- 5. Two Earthquakes or One?.- 6. Electoral Behaviour 2014 to 2019: The Multi-Level Voter in Scotland.- 7. How the Referendum Changes Scotland: Engagement, Polarisation and Losers' Consent.- 8. Conclusion.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“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)