A GUEST POST by
PROF.ALF BAIRD
There is an extensive postcolonial theory built on the decolonization and independence of a great many countries which tells us why we are where we are in Scotland today. The people put their faith in the dominant national party, which in turn is co-opted by the colonial power. The party elite then adopts a neutral stance on independence. It behaves like a gang, builds up its pensions, feathers its nest, and appoints its friends to key positions. It takes the movement up successive blind alleys and delays independence. It allies with colonial forces to attack so-called radicals. The party elite refuse to consider any innovation to liberate the people and wastes several electoral mandates and nationalist majorities. This sickens the people who then create new national parties and independence vehicles. This is the reality we currently face, in line with Fanon’s three phases of decolonization.
The main challenge for the political bourgeois class is posed in the sense that they have never undertaken a reasoned study of colonial society. They tend to think of independence from a purely political and policy perspective. This ignores the fact that independence, which is decolonization, has a moral imperative. Colonialism is a crime against humanity which is dependent on the racist superiority of the colonizer culture and his racial exploitation of the colonized. There is urgency here as the colonized people and culture will eventually perish under colonialism.
As colonialism is also based on psychology this implies the oppressed group suffer from a serious psychological condition. This includes a colonial mindset, related dependency complex and a deeply colonized syndrome involving internalized racism. The people have to better understand their colonial reality in order to seek the only remedy, which is liberation. This reality is easier for the oppressed elements in a colonial society to understand, less so for the more assimilated bourgeoisie who fear any change or perceived threat to their privileged position.
Notwithstanding the above, several innovative options currently exist to move more rapidly towards independence, including:
- Democratic elections – next opportunity in 2026, and perhaps using the Regional List vote as a national plebiscite on independence. To secure 50% + 1 should be claimed as sufficient mandate for independence.
- Education – the national organisation Salvo has been created to help further educate and inform the people about independence/decolonization, what it means and why it is essential and urgent.
- UN Decolonization – a national liberation organisation representing the people has now been created in Scotland and is expected to have standing at the UN, unlike political parties.
- Legal challenge – this should be done to consider and seek judicial opinion on the many violations to the Treaty of Union.
Essentially the people need to better understand their condition and what independence actually means, i.e. decolonization. The political class have let the people down, in part because they themselves did not understand the meaning and urgency of independence. This political and intellectual failure and delay to independence rightfully angers the people. Since the 2014 referendum considerable effort has been made to better understand Scotland’s constitutional and socio-political reality.
All innovative peaceful solutions available must be adopted to free the people, which is the most urgent matter. Some of these are already underway, including via a newly created national liberation organisation which has an extensive membership, elected committee and valid constitution with which to approach the UN and take forward the right of the people of Scotland to self-determination independence, which is decolonization. The next Holyrood election could use the regional list vote as an independence plebiscite, although there are still serious weaknesses and risks with a local government franchise being used for national elections never mind major constitutional matters.
(Roddy … purely for information – these are two very recent posts on the Declaration of a Sovereign Scot initiative)
1) I will shortly announce the next Stage in the Declaration of a Sovereign Scot initiative. It is deliberately being built in Stages so that the world and the UN Members contacted do NOT see this as a one-off, but as constant documentary evidence from those in Scotland who declare the end of the union. This is a reply I made to a question I was asked recently:
After each collection is made and copies taken they are posted to the UN in New York in individual batches. This photo was taken in Arbroath in April 2022 – so all the Declarations signed that day have been in New York for over 2 years now, in fact those signed in 2021 have been there for over 3 years. Those I collected last Saturday are being scanned as I write and will be in the next batch to be sent.
2) December 2020, was when I wrote the words to the Declaration of a Sovereign Scot. Why? To create a way that every Scot – could choose – to tell the world of their individual decision to end the Treaty of Union. To give every Scot the ability to have their say on the future of their country.
Michael was one of many who made his choice just last Saturday, one of the many who have also made that choice from all over Scotland during the past 4 years. But what about all those who have messaged me and asked to participate? To date I have asked them to be as patient as possible. Because – at least I hope – the next Stage in the Declaration initiative will begin to provide the answer. But it will require the help of others, it is simply not possible for one person to do. So, in the next Stage I want to find out if Yes Groups from all over Scotland will help. Will they? I do hope so. Expect details shortly – probably in another video to show how.
(Ends)
(If at all interested and you want to see the photo from Arbroath, the video of Michael, or all the posts re the initiative in sequence, the answers to many of the questions about the initiative, and to follow each Stage, please use this link:)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070340354557
That’s as fine a conspectus as one could find in a month of Sundays. The majority of Scots will need to get behind the idea of their status as colonial underdogs. Without that change in consciousness , there can be no progression to Indy.
It’s time we appealed more to the gut than the head.
Hi Doug, theirs no disagreement from me about appealing to the gut, but with our partisan, London-centric media, how do we manage the job off appealing to the all-important gut? I don’t believe for a moment that most Scots wouldn’t react angrily on realising their true colonised, position in the Union, but how do we first: get that message out there, and, second: transform that anger into feet-on-the-ground? Without folk like Alf, Roddy and the rest of us using the head first of all, our task will be many times more difficult.
The Yes campaign showed how people can be inspired, enthused and come together.
The current malaise and political focus of derailing independence and destroying corinated and enthusiastic drive for it shows how colonial control has intervened.
The Independence Referendum was granted when the colonial master thought there was noo chance of a win. Now they would not, and indeed will do everything possible to allow a referendum.
If the people can understand that, understand how pervasive and manipulative colonial rule is, then the road open up before us.
Dr Baird beats the drum about how colonialism suppresses, and stymies the road to independence.
Get that message through, reinvigorate and inspire, and we WILL win.
And yes, bought and sold for English gold was recognised all those years ago, and is still extant today as the post 2014 years have, shown.
Good article by Dr Baird. He’s got the message we need to widen.
Crystal-clear reckoning from Alf, once again.
There are parallels with the fight back against gender ideology which has recently been gaining ground after a long hard slog. By and large, this has not been through the parliamentary process or through mainstream media, the vast majority of which have been totally captured. Successes have been due to the grassroots movement comprising a range of groups e.g. For Women Scotland, Women’s Rights Network, Transgender Trend, Fair Cop, etc. each of which fights on a different front, as well as the indefatigable efforts of a few high profile figureheads, notably JKR and Graham Linehan, who refuse to be intimidated by trans activists. Wings has of course also been a great support as has the new rogue TV channel, GB news and the FSU. There is not perfect agreement on everything and individuals like Posie Parker are controversial but there is sufficient common ground. New books have also played a part. The messaging has been pro women’s and children’s rights and pro freedom of speech and belief, not anti trans, in sharp contrast to the threats and bullying of the TRAs. As a result, the public is much better informed and the opinion polls show support for self ID, men in women’s sports, gender ideology in schools etc. is rapidly crumbling. My point is, the political solution is a waste of time until we change the climate of opinion – then the politicians will follow like the sheep they seem to be these days. An evaluation of the success of the gender critical movement and transferable lessons might help. My career in economic development suggests to me that the economic arguments for independence are not being made strongly enough but that’s just my bias showing.