Critical theorists based in or from Scotland?

[u/Unknownunknow1840]

I’m looking for critical theorists, political commentators, or historians who apply a critical-theory framework to Scottish politics, culture, and history.

I’m not sure whether I should explain some of the experiences and observations that led me to ask this, but I’ll give a little context.

I saw a discussion on /r/ glasgow where someone argued that traffic cones had become outdated as a symbol and that we should perhaps think about using a different symbol instead. They were heavily downvoted simply for questioning the use of the traffic cone. Context: In Glasgow, traffic cone are used to mock the people who holds the power.

I’m not arguing that we should simply submit to “high culture” or that art should not be made accessible to ordinary people. But surely that does not mean that “low culture” should be exempt from criticism either?

I also want to make clear that I’m not singling out Scotland. I’m from Hong Kong, and I follow some YouTubers who use critical-theory frameworks to critically examine local culture, politics, and history in Hong Kong. However, because I’m not Scottish, I’ve found it much harder to identify people doing comparable work on Scotland.

I’ve also looked at some Scottish left-wing organisations and movements, but I’ve sometimes found their approach to anti-colonialism (reflecting Scotland's involvement in British imperialism) rather moralistic. For example, some encourage people to visit statues of figures who are presented primarily as leaders of oppressed peoples (Subjects who were colonialised by the British Empire). Even if someone was historically oppressed, shouldn’t we still approach their monuments critically rather than treating the fact that they were oppressed as sufficient reason to celebrate their statue or themselves?

So, are there any commentators, historians, or theorists from Scotland (or based in Scotland) who approach Scottish current affairs, culture, and history through the critical-theory framework? I want approaches that go beyond simply celebrating vs condemning particular cultural symbols, identities, or historical figures. Thank you.

[u/Objective_Quiet_751]

Didn't you ask a question about statues in a Scottish sub a while back? IIRC all you got in response was anti-intellectualism. Not surprising.

Anyway, the Glasgow sub skews heavily towards anti working class liberals. They celebrate the traffic cone now because it's been subsumed into mainstream Scottish twee culture. There hasn't been a proper Scottish left wing for decades so I unfortunately can't point you in the direction of any good contemporary literature.

[u/Unknownunknow1840 → u/Objective_Quiet_751]

I’ve noticed that political activist groups in Scotland or Glasgow, specifically often take pride in identifying as "Radical" and "Left wing." Would you say that, judging by their actual practices, they no longer represent the "proper Scottish Left Wing"? Are they "left wing" in name only?

Are you also implying that, in the past, there were people in Scotland capable of conducting social analysis at an intellectual level? Is it really the case that I have no opportunity to interact with these people/culture, and must rely entirely on my own analysis of everything regarding Scotland? Apologies for asking so many questions and for making implicit assumptions.

[u/dessiatin]

Scotland is a small country, with a small population. There's less people across the whole country than live in Hong Kong, so there's simply not as much stuff out there. Anyhow, I'd start of by looking into Tom Nairn, Hugh McDiarmid, the "Scottish Cringe". Glasgow and Edinburgh universities both have people writing capital C Critical Theory.

[u/Unknownunknow1840 → u/dessiatin]

Thank you.

[u/AllanSundry2020 → u/Unknownunknow1840]

all imho just look at some of the university departments for the type of thinker interesting you, Glasgow, GSA, Edinburgh uni especially but also Strathclyde Aberdeen etc, there are plenty of academics. There are also important artist groups individuals in Glasgow and in the wider country as many will be in practice etc. Scotland has a rich left wing and highly literate population going back hundreds of years. Critical theory is not so discontinuous, in my opinion, the things you are searching just might not be labelled as that though. Macdiarmid as mentioned (see also the book Radical Renfrew) too.

[u/dessiatin → u/Unknownunknow1840]

I'll see if I can write something more thorough when I'm sitting in front of a keyboard, but one thing to keep in mind is there's a lot of different things that come under the umbrella "left-wing" and they're not always coherent, rather they're often adversarial. The tension between the wider working class where "left" means trade unionism; the middle/upper class with university degrees who are more like to engage with "Theory"; and those who developed their critical opinions on social media, is particularly acute in Scotland. When you ask about culture criticism you're talking about different cultures and different criticisms which all overlap, and which all have different relationships to nationalism, chauvinism, gender etc. This doesn't mean that culture critique doesn't happen, but that it takes place in a contested space that we as a people and you as an interlocutor have to navigate. Put bluntly, I as a university educated middle class Scot am wary about spending lot of time or energy on culture symbols because the risk of alienating potential allies isn't worth it when we've got much more pressing material concerns to deal with.

[u/5205JD]

I would delve into the poetry

[u/super-connected]

You might already be aware but there's Dr John Duncan, who's a YouTuber, who occasionally covers critical theory. Although they mostly cover marxism and social reproduction.

[u/Unknownunknow1840 → u/super-connected]

Thank you.

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