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RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION & SECTARIANISM IN SCOTLAND: A BRIEF REVIEW OF EVIDENCE (2002-2004)
6. Summary and Conclusions
6.1 The majority of research listed above tends to focus on the traditional understanding of sectarianism along Catholic and Protestant divisions, however there have been wider developments to discuss issues of ethnicity, religiosity and identity in its various forms.
6.2 Few authors would say that sectarian or religious discrimination is entirely extinct, but there is now significant debate around the extent to which it exists in modern day Scotland. There is also debate around how history is relevant to the debate, some believe it is important in understanding perceptions/ identities, where as others argue that reliance on history promotes myth of sectarianism. Overall, the findings from the various pieces cited above indicate that there is indeed a perception of religious discrimination and sectarianism. However, there are conflicting conclusions when discussing what evidences actual 'hard' discrimination.
6.3 Work by Steve Bruce and colleagues would suggest that any limited evidence of religious discrimination is among older generations, and so is indicative of sectarianism dying out- although this may be an issue of definition of sectarianism. Work by NFO System Three indicates that there is little 'hard evidence' to suggest that sectarianism is highly reported in Glasgow, but that serious concerns remain, as highlighted through focus group discussions. However, all authors would agree that the perception of sectarianism or religious discrimination along other religious lines is high.
6.4 Asifa Hussain and Bill Miller would agree that some Muslims and English people living in Scotland perceive discrimination to be slightly higher than it actually is, although they would argue that the perceptions of the minorities who took part in the research have clear links to the some of the attitudes expressed in the SSAS.
6.5 Elinor Kelly and Tom Devine, whilst coming from different perspectives on this subject area, both raise their concern that sectarianism still exists within Scotland.
6.6 Quite clearly, the majority of this attitudinal work presents a mixed conclusion. However, this may be more an issue in how research measures attitudinal discrimination. This is not a straightforward matter and methodologies are contested among different academic schools of thought. Structural discrimination can be measured by assessing to what extent certain groups are denied access to school education and post compulsory education, what type of employment they undertake and what type of housing they live in. However, it is suggested that this does not necessarily understand or indeed measure adequately complex attitudinal discrimination. Attitudes to sectarianism will obviously be linked to structural discrimination- but this is also argued to be a distinct issue in itself.
6.7 Other issues include the fact that there still remains a significant number of the population that perceive a level of sectarian conflict. This could potentially develop barriers that go on to contribute to the cycle of perpetuating divisive attitudes and behaviours (in whatever way this is shown).
6.8 The conclusion of the review is that the research community is small, but within the community there were several examples of complexities and contention between researchers. There are a number of reasons for this. These include arguments around:
- The extent of sectarianism in modern Scotland and individual views on this.
- Disciplinary biases (including theory on use of history).
- Differences in methodology (including use of quantitative and qualitative data/ use of media reports).
- Differences in terminology (including definition of sectarianism).
- 'High level thinking' on perceptions/ attitudes to sectarianism v. 'ground level' research on specific experiences of sectarianism/ community work.
6.9 However, what is also apparent is that this subject area will develop as the various connected issues within this complex topic are further explored and for this reason it will be important and highly beneficial for all concerned with this policy area to keep up to date with the ongoing debates and proposed findings.
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