Call for Papers: Scotland in Transition

Name for Papers: Scotland in Transition: Views on Politics and Coverage Forward of the 2026 Election

Convention: 12-13 Could 2025, College of Edinburgh

Promoted by the Scottish Election Research, co-organised with the Centre on Constitutional Change and the Territorial Politics Analysis Group, Division of Politics and Worldwide Relations, College of Edinburgh

1 / 4 of a century into devolution and a decade on from the independence referendum, the 2026 Scottish Parliament election may very well be a pivotal second within the nation’s political evolution and constitutional future. With the SNP on the verge of twenty years in workplace, the Labour celebration successful again energy at Westminster, widespread dissatisfaction with administrations at each ranges and renewed fragmentation throughout the constitutional divide, the forthcoming devolved election may effectively be the least predictable for a few years. This convention, happening one yr forward of the vote, gives a well timed alternative for students with an curiosity in Scottish politics and coverage to mirror on the dynamics shaping the nation in a time of worldwide upheaval and uncertainty.

We invite contributions that analyse Scotland’s political establishments, insurance policies, and political identities – each in isolation and in comparative perspective – to boost tutorial understanding of the upcoming election and the place it’d lead Scotland. The convention may even present a platform for community-building amongst researchers round Scotland and past, and we particularly welcome submissions from PhD college students and different Early Profession Researchers.

Themes:We take a broad view of Scottish politics and invite papers that discover a spread of themes, together with however not restricted to the next: 

Elections, Voters and Events

Parliament, Authorities and Public Administration

Social Identities, Variety and Integration

Nationalism, Nationwide Identification, and Constitutional Change

Coverage, together with social, fiscal and international coverage

Submission Pointers:Please submit an summary (max 250 phrases) outlining your paper’s focus and contribution(s) to the themes outlined above by finishing this kind no later than 14 March 2025.