SNP gradualist
Encyclopedia
The gradualist viewpoint within the Scottish National Party
(SNP) is the idea that Scottish independence
can be won by the accumulation by the Scottish Parliament
of powers that the UK Parliament currently has over a protracted period of time. It is also a philosophy that emphasises the election of an SNP government should bring about trust in the Scottish people in the ability of Scotland
to govern herself, thus bringing increased support for independence. Gradualism comes from the Parti Québécois
strategy for the independence of Quebec
, étapisme
.
Gradualism stands in opposition to the so called 'fundamentalist
' point of view that would stress the SNP's support of independence more, and appear to have coined the term 'fundamentalist' too. Critics of gradualism maintain that it allows the UK parliament to dictate Scotland's status, rather than allowing people in Scotland itself to self-determine
.
Most political commentators today acknowledge that the current SNP leadership is by and large of the gradualist mould.
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) is the idea that Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
can be won by the accumulation by the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
of powers that the UK Parliament currently has over a protracted period of time. It is also a philosophy that emphasises the election of an SNP government should bring about trust in the Scottish people in the ability of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to govern herself, thus bringing increased support for independence. Gradualism comes from the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
strategy for the independence of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, étapisme
Étapisme
Étapisme is the term for a strategy for independence dominant in the Parti Québécois since 1974. It is associated with the figure of Claude Morin, who convinced Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque and eventually a majority of party delegates to adopt its principles...
.
Gradualism stands in opposition to the so called 'fundamentalist
SNP fundamentalist
The fundamentalist ideology within the Scottish National Party is the belief that the SNP should emphasise its policy of Scottish independence more widely in order to achieve it...
' point of view that would stress the SNP's support of independence more, and appear to have coined the term 'fundamentalist' too. Critics of gradualism maintain that it allows the UK parliament to dictate Scotland's status, rather than allowing people in Scotland itself to self-determine
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
.
Most political commentators today acknowledge that the current SNP leadership is by and large of the gradualist mould.
See also
- SNP FundamentalistSNP fundamentalistThe fundamentalist ideology within the Scottish National Party is the belief that the SNP should emphasise its policy of Scottish independence more widely in order to achieve it...
- Scottish independenceScottish independenceScottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
- Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....