The ‘Tartan Army’? Nationalist Terrorism in Scotland

Abstract

This chapter details the use of terrorism by fringe nationalist groups in Scotland, examining groups such as the Scottish Republican Army, the Tartan Army, the Army of the Provisional Government of Scotland and the Scottish National Liberation Army. The text focuses on why these groups emerged, the tactics they used and targets they selected. It traces their development during the latter-half of the twentieth century as Scottish nationalism became an increasingly potent political force. This chapter demonstrates that terrorist violence has been a very marginal feature of Scottish nationalism during this period, and that the vast majority of groups that emerged were unable to avoid state detection, or to develop any sort of popular support.