Book: "The New Case for Optimism" on Scottish Independence by Jim Sillars
A bold call for renewal and self-belief in Scotland’s future
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A bold call for renewal and self-belief in Scotland’s future
In The New Case for Optimism, Jim Sillars delivers a compelling, sharply argued vision for Scotland’s next chapter. Rejecting political fatalism and the erosion of civic confidence, Sillars offers a clear, rational framework for a nation ready to rediscover its self-determination and purpose.
Over a decade has passed since the Scottish referendum on independence, and the issue has faded into the background in spite of a chain of electoral mandates for renewed pressure for a second referendum. Today the issue has been overtaken by austerity at home and dramatic events abroad, but veteran campaigner Jim Sillars has written this call for a renewed campaign and a plea for optimism.
Now in his eighty-eighth year, Sillars has plenty of campaigning experience behind him and says that this will be the last one. His support for Scottish independence goes back to the seventies when he founded the Scottish Labour Party, establishing the connection between the left and independence.
With this move he hopes to kick off a process and a debate that reach out not only to those who have always maintained their enthusiasm for independence but also to those how have been distracted by other political and social developments and those who have never supported independence in the past. Independence, Sillars argues, is not about dislike of the English, but the wellbeing Scots in the context of a dramatically declining UK economy.
Key Themes & Takeaways
Optimism as a civic duty — Sillars redefines optimism not as naïve hope, but as an act of courage and responsibility.
A call to renewal — Scotland’s future, he argues, depends on rejecting complacency and rebuilding faith in its institutions and people.
Beyond political tribalism — Independence is reframed as a rational, evidence-led project for national competence and justice.
Moral and democratic clarity — The book insists that genuine progress begins with self-respect and honest leadership.
Key Quotes from The New Case for Optimism
“Optimism is not the denial of difficulty—it’s the decision to act despite it.”
“Our nation’s greatest deficit is not economic; it is psychological.”
“Independence must be about capability, not sentiment. We must be ready to govern well, not merely to be governed differently.”
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