John Buchan: The Antonyms of Scottish Nationalism

Abstract

An examination of Scottish nationalism during the Interwar Period (1918-1938), this paper seeks to explore and complicate the role played by intellectual elites in shaping national character and identity by investigating the role Scottish intellectual, John Buchan, played in Scotland's developments. Within the historical context of Scottish nationalism, Buchan s philosophy of history is analyzed in an attempt to illustrate and explore his views on nationalism. A politician, historian, editor, and novelist, Buchan played a prominent role in Scottish society. His speeches and writings serve as key sources to understand how the variety of tensions that were present in Scotland were also present in Buchan. Furthermore, they reveal how these tensions influenced Buchan s position as an intellectual elite shaping Scottish identity.