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Telling Scotland’s Story since 2013.

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What's on Guide

From Hiroshima til Now: The Third Nuclear Age

81 Years After Hiroshima: Scottish CND Commemorates & Campaigns for Nuclear Disarmament This August, Scottish CND marked the 81st anniversary of the

From Hiroshima til Now: The Third Nuclear Age

From Hiroshima til Now: The Third Nuclear Age

81 Years After Hiroshima: Scottish CND Commemorates & Campaigns for …

Escalating Pressure Campaigning with Craig Dalzell

Escalating Pressure Campaigning with Craig Dalzell

Making Campaigns Count: The Science of Effective Activism What …

Making Campaigns Count: The Science of Effective Activism

What separates a campaign that changes the world from one that fades into obscurity? In this episode, Fiona and Marlene are joined by …returning guest Dr Craig Dalzell from the think tank Commonweal to explore the research-backed principles of effective activism and civil resistance.

Drawing on the groundbreaking work of academics like Erica Chenoweth and Gene Sharp, we dive deep into what actually works—and what doesn’t—when organizing for change. Why do some campaigns achieve their goals while others struggle to gain traction? What’s the difference between activism that captures hearts and minds versus campaigns that peter out?

In this episode, we:

Examine planning and organizing methods used by successful movements, what they did right and where campaigns went wrong.
We also explore the powerful potential of civil resistance and strategic disobedience and discover how to sharpen our campaigning focus for maximum impact.

Key chapters:
00:02:16 Core principles for escalating pressure
00:13:17 4 key steps for effective campaign planning
00:20:12 Options for organisational structures
00:27:52 The role of devolved governments
00:32:32 Re-designing events to increase pressure
00:35:29 Civil obedience/disobedience and resistance tactics
00:47:04 Contrasting the tactics of the far right
00:49:19 Further resources and information
00:54:43 Some ideas to get started

#grassroots #civilresistance #scottishindependence

Commonweal are planning to update their excellent handbook “How to Start A New Country” Craig and Common Weal wish to thank the Scottish Independence Fund ( https://sif.scot ) for their generous support of the project. Commonweal will also shortly launch a Crowdfunder – details will be added here when available.
You can also make a regular donation to support all their work here https://www.commonweal.scot/donate

Usful links mentioned in the discussion:

Erica Chenoweth “why civil resistance works” https://www.ericachenoweth.com/research/wcrw

Blogpost 2020 https://thecommongreen.scot/2020/07/06/the-road-to-independence-part-two-johnsons-journey-to-yes/

4 part blog series on pressure campaigning and non-violent direct action:
https://artivism.scot/2020/11/11/the-pressure-series-part-1-what-the-independence-movement-can-learn-from-the-history-of-nonviolent-activism/
https://artivism.scot/2020/11/13/the-pressure-series-part-2-applying-pressure-in-scotland/
https://artivism.scot/2020/11/27/the-pressure-series-part-3-forward-not-in-union-but-solidarity/
https://artivism.scot/2020/12/04/the-pressure-series-part-4-helping-others-see-us/

Research paper into Unionist concerns and fears of a united ireland:
https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/govirl/Daly_2019-07-18_Unionist-Concerns.pdf

The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe!

Get in touch:
Email: indypodcasters@gmail.com
Bluesky: @scottishindypod

Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes

Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips. Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm

We’re also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters

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https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcasts
or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.

Music:

Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political. Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.Show More

Get the links!

Get the links!

Independence Live are now on Linktree. Get all our important links …

Help Ignite Indy! Crowdfunder 2025

Help Ignite Indy! Crowdfunder 2025

It’s that time of year again when we at Independence Live ask you if …

Previously on What's on Guide

Long Strikes Exhaust Russia | Sunday Stream with Denys Davydov

🔥 Support Pilot Blog on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PilotBlog ❤️ Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/davydoff ✈️ Find me on PayPal

Long Strikes Exhaust Russia | Sunday Stream with Denys Davydov

Long Strikes Exhaust Russia | Sunday Stream with Denys Davydov

🔥 Support Pilot Blog on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/PilotBlog ❤️ …

AUOB Stirling 2026 #AUOBStirling.

AUOB Stirling 2026 #AUOBStirling.

Come along and give your voice for Scotland to re-gain its …

Ep 48 Recce Report - 8 June 2026

Ep 48 Recce Report – 8 June 2026

Cliff and Russ from Veterans for Scottish Independence cast a critical …

Holyrood Independence Rally, May 26th 2026

Holyrood Independence Rally, May 26th 2026

Come along to Holyrood, Edinburgh and give your voice for Scotland to …

Holyrood Independence Rally, May 26th 2026

Holyrood Independence Rally, May 26th 2026

Come along to Holyrood, Edinburgh and give your voice for Scotland to …

Ep 47 Recce Report - 11 May 2026

Ep 47 Recce Report – 11 May 2026

Cliff and Russ from Veterans for Scottish Independence cast a critical …

Scotonomics Ep: 137 Introducing The Communities Deliver Framework 📱

Scotonomics Ep: 137 Introducing The Communities Deliver Framework 📱

Scotland is on the verge of a historic shift. The Community Wealth …

Ep 45 Recce Report - 9 March 2026

Ep 45 Recce Report – 9 March 2026

Cliff and Russ from Veterans for Scottish Independence cast a critical …

SCOTONOMICS EP 136: Does the climate movement believe that governments must find the money? 📱

SCOTONOMICS EP 136: Does the climate movement believe that governments must find the money? 📱

The literature review focuses on articles that address macroeconomic …

SCOTONOMICS EP 135: With Professor Danny Dorling

SCOTONOMICS EP 135: With Professor Danny Dorling

Danny Dorling joins William Thomson to discuss his latest book, “The …

Ep 41 Recce Report - 13 October 2025

Ep 41 Recce Report – 13 October 2025

Cliff and Russ from Veterans for Scottish Independence cast a critical …

Episode: 134 Edinburgh: Innovation and the Festival Economy

Episode: 134 Edinburgh: Innovation and the Festival Economy

In this episode of Scotonomics, William Thomson is joined by Nick …

In this episode of Scotonomics, William Thomson is joined by Nick Sherrard to unpack an uncomfortable question:

How can Scotland host the biggest arts festival in the world and still …fail to turn it into long-term economic value for its own creative sector?

Drawing on Nick’s recent research into the Edinburgh Festivals, the discussion reveals a striking imbalance. Global artists, producers, and investors flood into the city each August, yet Scottish creative firms often struggle to secure visibility, influence, or lasting commercial benefit. Major decisions are made elsewhere. There is no Scotland House to promote national talent. Even festival infrastructure and digital platforms are increasingly sourced from abroad.

The conversation broadens to innovation more widely. Nick challenges the way Scotland talks about “ecosystems” without being clear about the mechanisms involved. He outlines the four stages of innovation, arguing that Scotland currently behaves like a stage-four economy: good at assembling ideas developed elsewhere, but weak at owning and scaling original innovation.

The episode also explores how innovation is too often treated as an unquestioned good, disconnected from purpose, wellbeing, sustainability, or community wealth. Big tech, empire-building, and loss-leader disruption models like Uber are contrasted with what a genuinely public-interest innovation strategy might look like.

Finally, the discussion turns to policy and power. From the role of the enterprise agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) to the deeper limits imposed by currency control and foreign ownership, William and Nick argue that Scotland’s economic institutions lack accountability, clarity of purpose, and ambition in the right places. Instead of endlessly chasing unicorns or inward investment, they suggest a far more radical shift. One that directly backs people, enables experimentation, and links innovation to real social and economic outcomes at home. The episode closes with a call to stop abstract talk and start focusing on the practical mechanics of how Scotland actually builds, owns, and benefits from its own economy.

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