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RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION & SECTARIANISM IN SCOTLAND: A BRIEF REVIEW OF EVIDENCE (2002-2004)
1. Introduction
1.1 The aim of this paper is to explore the key academic and research studies (between 2002 and 2004 only) which look at various issues within the subject area of attitudes to religion, religious discrimination and sectarianism. This will include papers on both structural and attitudinal discrimination, and will focus on discrimination between and against various faith groups. Conflict between Catholic and Protestant communities in Scotland will fall within this definition, but research into discrimination against or within other faiths will also be investigated.
1.2 This paper compliments an earlier piece of work from the Central Research Unit (March 2002) that identified similar pieces of work up until that date. ( Please see Annex A).
1.3 This briefing paper will not aim to rate one piece of research above another. Instead, it will aim to draw together key findings across the subject area, and in effect compare and contrast such evidence. It will aim to provide a clear explanation of the kinds of evidence available to policy makers and the various debates that ensue within this field.
1.4 Preparation for this paper focused on the following methods:
- On line literature search
- Liaison with other government social researchers
- Liaison with specialist librarians (accessing various databases according to search criteria)
1.5 Literature searches were undertaken between April and May 2004. Some work has been published since the original preparation and collation of the papers for the review. Where possible, any subsequent texts have been included in the discussion.
1.6 However, this paper does not claim to represent a systematic review. Therefore there can be no guarantee that all papers within the academic and research communities are included here. The search for evidence within this sensitive area is ongoing within the wider evidence based policy agenda, and it is hoped that any accidental omission will be filled as time progresses.
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