Sectarianism has long been considered an ugly stain on Scotland’s soul but, in a keynote lecture in Dundee, historian Professor Tom Devine argues it is time to concentrate on bigger problems. Jack McKeown finds out more.
Scotland needs to get real about sectarianism. It is not a small problem. It is not confined to Glasgow or to football matches between Celtic and Rangers. It is a Scotland-wide issue that permeates even rural communities. Too many Scots want to “minimise” or “reject” sectarianism on the basis that the best way to manage it is in private.
So says the head of an independent strategy group set up by First Minister Alex Salmond. The Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland argues that acknowledging the bigotry that blights Scotland would be an effective first step towards tackling the problem.
Professor Tom Devine disagrees. Last year, the historian says, there were only four religiously-aggravated offences in Dundee City and just 674 across the whole of Scotland.
“Of those, 80% were in West-Central Scotland, with the exception of three areas: West Lothian, which was traditionally a great area for Irish Protestant immigration; Falkirk and, oddly, Stirling,” he says.
“In the majority of these charges, the perpetrator had no idea what the religion of the victim actually was. “And almost all of them were what the police call ‘verbals’. Only 5% involved even a minimum level of violence.”
So sectarianism isn’t a big issue, then? “I’m not saying it isn’t a problem, I’m saying it isn’t as big a problem as many other things.
“Compare those 674 charges with other hate crimes, such as racism, domestic abuse, and criminality involving a person’s sexual orientation.
“There were 20,000 domestic abuse charges in Scotland last year. There were 4,000 racially-aggravated breaches of the peace.
“If you make a list of the number of hate-related crimes, sectarianism is at the bottom of that list.”
Edinburgh University’s Professor Devine, 68, is regarded as the leading authority on the history of modern Scotland. He says sectarianism is a much smaller problem than it once was.
“Sectarianism is moving in the right direction. It used to be worse than it is now.
“I divide it into two subjects. There is structural sectarianism, or labour market discrimination, which was rife in the seventies. It can be summed up in the question: ‘what school did you go to?’ That was the kind of sectarianism that affects your life chances. It is virtually gone now.
“The second form of sectarianism is attitudinal sectarianism, or bigotry. The important part that affects life changes has virtually gone. It’s this unpleasantness that’s left now.”
Tomorrow Professor Devine will be putting sectarianism under the microscope in a lecture at Dundee University. He says the press are partly to blame for inflaming an already ugly rivalry between two football teams.
“The media, along with Rangers and Celtic football clubs, play an enormous role in the public’s perception of this problem.
“The two clubs attract a tribal support. Celtic was founded by Irish republican immigrants and by 1910 Rangers were recognised as championing Protestantism.
“There is a mania about football all over the world and the bombs in the post episode (where sectarians sent letter bomb packages to Celtic boss Neil Lennon, Labour MSP Trish Godman and the late Paul McBride QC) was covered by 1,883 papers around the globe.
“The current Scottish Government is very aware of Scotland’s reputation across the world and when it seemed bombs were being sent to a football manager it turns out it wasn’t a bomb the whole world sat up and took notice. The Scottish Government had to be seen to be cracking down on the problem.
“Domestic abuse is common across almost all countries. But as one commentator said after the bombs in the post episode, now the whole world knows our dirty little secret.”
The Scottish Government has brought forward tougher legislation on sectarianism and dedicated £9 million over three years towards tackling it.
“Scotland is the only jurisdiction in the world apart from Northern Ireland that has anti-sectarian legislation on its statute books,” Professor Devine continues.
The 2003 Scottish Criminal Justice Act, Section 74, makes it possible to get a higher sentence for a breach of the peace if it can be proven it involves religious aggravation.
“The Scottish Government put £3 million into anti-sectarianism policies last year but there is a huge vacuum in terms of evidence and knowledge. Many of these policies are based on assumption and suspicion rather than solid academic evidence.
“Why were there no anti-sectarian policies when structural sectarianism was rife? Why did it take Rangers Football Club until 1989 to hire a Catholic? Celtic always had Protestants famously, Jock Stein.
“It’s not to say there isn’t a problem but the problem is in decline. It remains massively exaggerated.
“There were only four cases in Dundee last year and those would have been drunks calling a police officer one insult instead of another.”
Professor Devine says the outcome of next year’s independence referendum could have a dramatic effect on sectarianism in Scotland.
“It will have a very big impact,” he says, adding: “But you’ll have to turn up to my lecture to find out why.”
Sectarianism: A Scottish Problem? the 2013 Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion takes place at the Dalhousie Building, Dundee University, tomorrow at 6pm. Admission is free and tickets are available from www.dundee.ac.uk/ticketsor 01382 385564