Sectarianism in Scotland

Is Scotland a sectarian society? Scotland is divided not by religion as much as by arguments about the enduring importance of religious divisions. The 'curse' of Sectarianism is debated in the Parliament, the General Assembly and in the media. What we have not had until now is a serious assessment of the evidence.

This book tests the hyperbole with historical and social scientific data, describing and explaining the changing pattern of relations between Catholics and Protestants over the twentieth century. It concludes that Catholic integration in Scotland has been far more successful than most commentators would have us believe. While there were once deep social, political, economic and cultural divisions, these have now all but disappeared. In Scotland's increasingly secular society, religious identity has steeply declined in social significance.

The book will be informed by both a considerable body of evidence from new historical research and major social surveys, and by the authors' understanding of what the mixing of religion and politics looks like elsewhere (in America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Ulster).

This book tests the hyperbole regarding religion in Scotland with historical and social scientific data, describing and explaining the changing pattern of relations between Catholics and Protestants over the twentieth century.

Steve Bruce is Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science, University of Aberdeen.

Tony Glendinning is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen.

Iain Paterson is Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health at the University of Glasgow.

Michael Rosie is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Edinburgh.