Bannockburn, Braveheart, or Baccara? Ethnosymbolism, nationalism, and sport in contemporary Scotland

Abstract

This article critically reflects upon the symbolic role of sport in relation to nationalism and national identity within contemporary Scottish society. Drawing upon an ethnosymbolist theoretical approach, the article discusses: (a) the mythology associated with Scottish ‘national sports’; (b) the existence of independent Scottish teams; and (c) the evocation of ancient Scottish history and warfare within the symbolism of Scottish sport. It underlines the import of sporting issues to ongoing theoretical debates regarding nationalism and national identity in contemporary Scottish society, concluding that ethnosymbolism remains an effective theoretical explanation of the nature of contemporary Scottish nationalism.