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RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION & SECTARIANISM IN SCOTLAND: A BRIEF REVIEW OF EVIDENCE (2002-2004)
2. Background
2.1 Since James Macmillan's well publicised speech at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1999, the debate on the prevalence of sectarianism (and religious discrimination in general) in Scotland has developed somewhat in academic circles and in the wider research community. Although traditionally sectarianism and religious hatred/ discrimination were broached from a largely historical perspective, other disciplines are now looking at the issue in more depth. These disciplines include politics, psychology, sociology and theology.
2.2 In particular, social research is now developing a stronger interest in the area. Quantitative and qualitative evidence for modern day Scotland has taken some time to complete and analyse- but data is now available to contribute to the wider debates that until recently have largely concentrated on historical and sociological commentary.
2.3 However, the picture is still very complex. Firstly, the fact that there are now more academic disciplines involved means that there is some confusion and criticism surrounding methodology, terminology and disciplinary bias. Also, the wider discussion around sectarianism and religion has developed links with other issues such as ethnicity and identity. This is further complicated by the multiple approaches to research which either concentrates on 'perceptions' or 'attitudes' to religious hatred and discrimination, or else aims to measure direct indications or experiences of daily discrimination.
2.4 Also, the complexity is heightened by the confusion between the measurement of perception and attitude. These different areas of analysis can often be misrepresented and proposed to measure the same thing. Whereas measurements of perceptions will allude to how someone understands something to be happening or what someone thinks is happening, measurement of attitudes will reflect what people think about that event or circumstance.
2.5 Nevertheless, the two are related, in that an entrenched 'attitude' can effect how someone perceives what is happening around them. Equally, how someone perceives what is happening can effect development of attitudes. Both of these measurements will be discussed as this paper progresses.
2.6 It is important to remember that while there has been development in this subject area, the research community is relatively small compared to those that research other sensitive and highly significant policy areas. This is a complex policy issue and one that may require further work on certain aspects and wider awareness raising.
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