Global Scots: Re-imagining the Nation

Module Leader: Dr Jim MacPherson

Were Scots a particularly global people? And how does a global Scottishness continue to shape our world today? In this module, you’ll examine the experience of the global Scottish diaspora from the eighteenth century to the present day. We focus on literary responses to the movement of Scots abroad, from James Macpherson’s Ossian to James Robertson’s novel Joseph Knight (2003). In this module, you’ll explore how Global Scottishness was structured by empire and colonialism, from trans-Atlantic slavery to the East India Company. Looking at examples of recent decolonial practice in Scotland, we conclude by examining how our contemporary world is shaped by these legacies and how museums are responding to the need to represent our imperial past.

Indicative Content

• Ossian and the world
• James Macpherson: History writing and the imperial Gael
• East India Company
• Scots and Slavery
• Joseph Knight
• Prester John
• Decolonization and legacies of slavery in Scotland
• Representing Scotland's imperial past in museums

Coursework

• Blog Post – 1000 words, 30%
• Project Essay – 4000 words, 70%