This chapter draws together the major arguments and insights presented in the preceding chapters. Drawing on Adam Smith’s and Karl Polanyi, they consider ideas about the role of the state in democratic societies, arguing that democratic government is the only institution that can truly manage public and semi-public goods, including natural resources, education, health, money and individual security, in the legitimate interest of all, while ensuring freedom, equity and justice. The cases of the two neighbouring countries, Scotland and Norway, have been used to analyse and understand the very different trajectories the two countries have taken over the past two centuries. Norway’s political independence, gained in 1814, combined with a general approaches to politics, institutions, natural resources and property rights, industrialization, that all emphasize or support decentralisation, have given Norway an advantage over Scotland in achieving democratic governance. Scotland’s longstanding subordinate status within the British Empire, which largely disenfranchised the Scots and left them without the necessary government support in the areas of industry and oil and gas, local governance and decentralized development, health care, housing and urban poverty, have contributed to Scotland’s disadvantage. When the book was completed, the results of the referendum on independence were unknown. However, the editors did consider that the referendum might fail, and noted that Scotland would in this event still enter a constitutional stage much like Norway did in 1814. At the time, few considered the issue of Brexit, and its consequences for Scotland. For both of these reasons, the future of Scottish politics remains a key issue, underpinning the importance of this book.
Community as Context and Content: A Land-based Learning Primer for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education
