This course introduces students to contemporary political issues in Scotland in a comparative perspective. This means looking not only at how Scottish politics differs from UK politics, but also at how Scottish politics compares to politics in other decentralised democracies, such as Spain and Canada. In the process, this course will explore the historical distinctiveness of Scottish politics, as well as critically examine whether there really is a ?new politics? in Scotland since devolution. Scottish national identity will be compared to its counterparts in other countries. How people, as individuals and as part of civil society, participate in Scottish politics will also be explored. Ultimately, students will evaluate perhaps the biggest issue on the current political agenda: the likelihood and potential consequences of Scottish independence.