The Scottish Political System

by James G. Kellas

First published in 1973, Professor Kellas' account of Scottish government and politics has long been recognized as the standard textbook in the field. Its scope includes a definition of the Scottish political system, and critical descriptions of Scottish administration, parliamentary activity, parties, electoral behavior, and pressure groups. Scottish nationalism is given a wider interpretation than usual, covering not only the support for the Scottish National Party, but the manifestations of national feeling in Scottish life. The General Election of 1987 provided further evidence of the distinctive character of politics in Scotland. In a new postscript Professor Kellas looks at the principal political developments of the period since 1983, and examines the political and constitutional developments posed by the current imbalance of forces between Westminster and Scotland.

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1973

About the author

James Grant Kellas was a professor of politics at the University of Glasgow and a former head of department. He was also a talented musician and composer and played at the famous Ronnie Scott's Club in London, arranged his own music and founded the James Grant Kellas Sax Section.

In 1962 Kellas became a lecturer in history at the University of Aberdeen. Two years later, he was appointed to teach politics at the University of Glasgow, becoming in time professor and head of department. He spent his entire academic life there (apart from a year as a visiting professor at Pittsburgh) and had a distinguished career.

His first book, Modern Scotland, which was published in 1968, dealt with the history and institutions of Scotland since 1870 and its opening chapter was presciently titled The Meaning of Scotland. A second revised edition appeared in 1980.

The revised edition was stimulated not only by events but also by Professor Kellas' public profile as an analyst that had been enhanced by his most notable book, The Scottish Political System (1973), which went through four editions. Not only was it typically perceptive in its recognition that "the British system can only be maintained by accommodation with the national systems within it" but was a path-breaking work academically. No one before him had treated Scotland to a serious political science analysis – and all subsequent scholars followed in his footsteps.