"Is There A Scottish Road To Socialism?"

I have blogged before about the brewing "perfect storm" in Scottish politics in the run up to the May elections for local authorities and the Scottish Parliament. The debate about Scottish Independence and break up, or federalisation, of the UK is intertwined on the left with a debate about the nature of modern British and European capitalism and state power. This throws issues into greater relief and clarity than is perhaps always the case in England.

A new book is out which sets out various opinions on this debate from a range of left positions. Is There A Scottish Road To Socialism? costs £8.99 from Scottish Left Review Press, 3f2 10 Henderson Row, Edinburgh, EH35DS. Make cheques payable to Scottish Left Review Press.

Contributors include Peter McColl of the Scottish Green Party, former Labour MP and MSP John McAllion, independent MSP Campbell Martin, (Labour Party) Campaign For Socialism activist Vince Mills, Scottish Left Review editor Robin McAlpine, Independnce First activist Joe Middleton, economist David Purdy, Democratic Left Convenor Stuart Fairweather, John Foster of the Communist Party of Britain, GMB organiser Richard Leonard, SNP activist Bill Wilson, SSP National Secretary Pam Currie, Eric Canning of the Communist Party of Scotland and historian and Solidarity member Neil Davidson.

Meanwhile, Issue 39 of the Scottish Left Review focusses on the 2007 Scottish election. It is a shame that there is not a similar review, and similar co-operation, in England. Gregor Gall reviews the new book in the Scottish Left Review here.