Abstract
This article explores how stateless nationalist parties in the ‘Celtic periphery’ of Scotland and Northern Ireland have used Europe to advance their territorial projects. Despite vastly different historical, political and social contexts, the Scottish National Party and Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party have both advanced a pro-European, social democratic discourse that emphasises the importance of Europe as a framework for constitutional reform and shared sovereignty. However, in recent years the parties have diverged on Europe. While the SDLP has continued its principled commitment to further integration, the SNP has articulated an increased criticism of the supranational project. This divergence in party attitudes reveals the extent to which the pro-European dimension of Celtic nationalism is ideological or opportunistic.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 383–399 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | British Journal of Politics and International Relations |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Political Science and International Relations