Blaming on Westminster and building Charismatic Leaderships in the post-Devolution Scottish National Party. (original) (raw)

The devolution process that began in 1997 gave Scotland its own parliament two years later. Consequently, the centre of gravity of the SNP was to find its materiality in the Edinburgh Parliament building, as well as in Bute House where the First Minister resides: a true statesman (or stateswoman), accountable to a Scottish people represented in its singularity in Holyrood. Indeed, Devolution was to provide a ground from which the nationalist party could claim more powers in the name of their more effective exercise, as close as possible to the most concerned citizens: this is any nationalist party's raison d'être. It was in the wake of the blame on the Other, namely Westminster and the British Prime Minister that the last discursive phase of the construction of the Scottish Self, as opposed to his British alter ego, with a strong head that had to be brought to light, was instigated in order to mobilize an electorate. Added to a notable professionalization involving more research and consultation with expert organizations, this was the last launch pad to bring the SNP from a protest party to one of government. It is through a study of the communication of the nationalist party during the election campaigns-notably through the shaping of charismatic figures and the reification of this otherness-that we will attempt to understand the electoral gains of the SNP since 1999, as well as the consolidation of this foundation.