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Nationalism and Socialism. Allan Armstrong, Socialist Worker, 10p
The traditional left lays itself open to the charge that it has a blinkered view of life. Tom Nairn for example thinks it is so besotted by wage struggle that all other problems of social and political existence escape it. This pamphlet will not allay Nair's fears. Sadly, it provides few prac tical pointers for those who reject Nairn's outlook but still want a socialist approach to the national question.
This is a pity, because the analysis of the first half is valuable. The writer points out the distinctive feature of Scottish nationalism: the "Parcel o' Rogues" who signed away Scottish sovereignty did so voluntarily. It was the only way they could discipline the unruly highlands and open the way to the clearances, to industrial expansion and a stake in the Empire.
uniform state and system of commerce as happened with the Basque and Catalan nationalities. The Scottish rulers set up national institutions tailored to the needs of the Empire - from Scottish regiments to Scottish banks. This is why movements of national revolt have never sunk deep roots in Scottish life.
But this does not justify the author's refusal to acknowledge any expression of national sentiment except that of the bourgeoisie. He fails to analyse the working class response to nationalism - both Scottish and British. This is why he has nothing to say about the British nationalism of the anti-devolutionists. This is why he also has nothing to say about the Scottish institutions the working class has created. Nor its tradition of militant struggle. This is why he completely misunderstands the SLP. detining it as a kind of mini-SNP.
Nations and nationalities are rooted in all aspects of social existence, including that of working people. We can all cross our hearts and curse the Tartan Tories, But why do they get support? And why. when there is real national oppression as in Catalonia and the Basque country, do we find national demands spearheadine great waves of anti-fascist and even anti-capitalist revolt led by workers" organisations?
Are not democracy and democratic rights as relevant to workers" needs as the severest attack on living standards? Is not the nationalist tide in Scotland swelled by genuine problems that will have to be tackled on a Scottish basis, whether by workers" councils or the Rank and File Movement. The domination of the mulinationals, the social squador and deprivation of Clydeside and Tayside. enforced migration, the decline of traditional industry: we must meet these problems head on and so we must put forward our solutions cverywhere they will reach willing ears including the assembly.
Of course it is true, as Armstrong says, that "the creation of a Scottish Assembly would still leave us with our daily dictatorships*. But the same could be siid of universal suffrage. Was it not worth winning? The same can be said of women's rights. Are they not worth fiphting for? Of course it is not enough to have an assembly. Or course it will not bring socialism.
But neither will the readers of his pamphlet uniess they understand that nationalism is too important to bedeft to the nationalits.
ALAN FREEMAN