---
title: "Scottish Independence — AP Comp Gov Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Scottish independence is the movement to separate Scotland from the UK, fueled by Brexit. An AP Comp Gov example of pressure on state sovereignty in Unit 1."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/scottish-independence"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Comparative Government"
unit: "Unit 1"
---

# Scottish Independence — AP Comp Gov Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

Scottish independence is the movement, led by the Scottish National Party, to separate Scotland from the United Kingdom and make it a sovereign state. In AP Comp Gov it's a core UK example of how nationalism and Brexit create pressure for change in power and authority (Topic 1.6).

## What It Is

Scottish independence is the political movement seeking to take Scotland out of the [United Kingdom](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/united-kingdom "fv-autolink") entirely, turning it into its own sovereign state with full control over its laws, economy, and [foreign policy](/ap-comp-gov/unit-2/executive-systems/study-guide/dDQcnwREgI0YRpscsZsY "fv-autolink"). The movement is led mainly by the Scottish National Party (SNP). In a 2014 referendum, Scots voted to stay in the UK by roughly 55% to 45%. Then Brexit changed the math. In the 2016 EU referendum, the UK as a whole voted to leave the European Union, but Scotland voted heavily to remain (about 62% Remain). Many Scots felt dragged out of the EU against their will, which reignited calls for a second independence vote.

For [AP Comp Gov](/ap-comp-gov "fv-autolink"), this matters because the UK is one of your six course countries, and Scottish independence is the textbook example of a peaceful, electoral challenge to a state's sovereignty. Per PAU-1.D.2, how a regime uses power to defend its sovereignty depends on whether it's democratic or authoritarian. The UK, a democracy, has handled the independence question through referendums, court rulings (the UK Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Scotland can't hold a legal referendum without Westminster's approval), and devolution, not tanks. That contrast does a lot of work on comparison questions.

## Why It Matters

This term lives in **[Unit 1](/ap-comp-gov/unit-1 "fv-autolink"): Political Systems, [Regimes](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/regime "fv-autolink"), and Governments**, specifically **Topic 1.6: Change in Power and Authority**, supporting learning objective **AP Comp Gov 1.6.A** (explain sources of power and authority in political systems). The essential knowledge here says regime change can happen incrementally or suddenly through elections, coups, or revolutions (PAU-1.D.3), and that democratic regimes can maintain sovereignty using less power than authoritarian ones (PAU-1.D.2). Scottish independence is your go-to evidence for the *democratic, incremental* end of that spectrum. The UK responded to separatist pressure by granting devolution (a Scottish Parliament with real powers since 1998) and allowing a legal referendum in 2014, rather than crushing the movement. If independence ever succeeded, it would change the UK state itself, which is a bigger deal than changing a government or even a regime. That distinction between government, regime, and state is exactly what Unit 1 tests.

## Connections

### [Regime change (Unit 1)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/regime-change)

Scottish independence helps you see the ladder of [political change](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/political-change "fv-autolink"). Swapping prime ministers changes the government, rewriting the rules changes the regime, but Scotland leaving would change the state itself by redrawing the UK's borders and sovereignty. Knowing which rung you're on is half the battle on Unit 1 questions.

### [Russian Federation (Units 1, 3-4)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/russian-federation)

[Russia](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/russia "fv-autolink") faced its own separatist movement in Chechnya and answered with military force. The UK answered Scotland with referendums and devolved power. That side-by-side is PAU-1.D.2 in action, since the democratic regime maintained sovereignty using far less coercion than the authoritarian one. It's a ready-made comparison FRQ answer.

### [Coups (Unit 1)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/coups)

[Coups](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/coups "fv-autolink") and independence referendums are opposite paths to changing who holds power. A coup is sudden, usually military, and bypasses the people; the Scottish independence push runs through ballots, parties, and courts. PAU-1.D.3 lists elections, coups, and revolutions as routes to regime change, and Scotland shows the electoral route.

### [Authoritarian takeover (Unit 1)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/authoritarian-takeover)

The fact that the SNP can openly campaign to break up the UK, win elections, and take its case to the Supreme Court shows what a consolidated democracy looks like. In a state vulnerable to authoritarian takeover, a separatist party that strong would likely be banned or repressed instead.

## On the AP Exam

No released FRQ has asked about Scottish independence by name, but it's prime raw material for the exam's UK questions. Multiple-choice stems use it to test whether you can identify a challenge to state sovereignty in a democratic regime, or to distinguish independence from devolution. On FRQs, it works as concrete evidence in two big moves. First, explaining how democratic regimes respond to internal challenges (referendums, devolved parliaments, court rulings) versus how authoritarian regimes do (force, as in Chechnya). Second, supporting an argument essay about sovereignty, legitimacy, or nationalism with country-specific evidence from the UK. When you use it, be precise with verbs. Don't just name-drop the SNP; explain *how* the independence movement pressures the UK state and *how* the UK's response reflects its democratic character.

## Scottish independence vs Devolution

Devolution is the UK central government handing some powers (like education and health policy) down to a Scottish Parliament while Westminster stays sovereign and can legally take those powers back. Independence means Scotland becomes its own state with full sovereignty, full stop. Devolution was actually designed to *defuse* independence pressure by giving Scotland autonomy within the UK. If an exam question involves transferring powers within a still-unitary UK, that's devolution. If it involves Scotland leaving the UK entirely, that's independence.

## Key Takeaways

- Scottish independence is the movement, led by the SNP, to make Scotland a fully sovereign state separate from the United Kingdom.
- Scotland voted to stay in the UK in the 2014 referendum (about 55% to 45%), but Brexit revived the movement because Scotland voted around 62% to remain in the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.
- It supports AP Comp Gov 1.6.A by showing how challenges to power and authority can run through elections, referendums, and courts instead of coups or revolutions (PAU-1.D.3).
- The UK's response, granting devolution and permitting a legal referendum, illustrates PAU-1.D.2's point that democratic regimes can maintain sovereignty with less coercive power than authoritarian ones.
- Independence is not devolution; devolution transfers some powers to a Scottish Parliament while Westminster keeps ultimate sovereignty, but independence would end UK sovereignty over Scotland entirely.
- The strongest comparison move is pairing the UK's peaceful handling of Scottish separatism with Russia's military response to Chechnya.

## FAQs

### What is Scottish independence in AP Comp Gov?

It's the movement, led by the Scottish National Party, to separate Scotland from the UK and make it a sovereign state. In AP Comp Gov it's a Unit 1 example of a peaceful, electoral challenge to state sovereignty under Topic 1.6, Change in Power and Authority.

### Did Scotland become independent from the UK?

No. Scotland is still part of the United Kingdom. The 2014 referendum failed (about 55% voted No), and in 2022 the UK Supreme Court ruled the Scottish Parliament cannot hold another referendum without Westminster's consent.

### How is Scottish independence different from devolution?

Devolution gave Scotland its own parliament (since 1998) with control over areas like education and health, but the UK central government remains sovereign and could reclaim those powers. Independence would make Scotland a completely separate sovereign state. Devolution is autonomy within the UK; independence is exit from the UK.

### Why did Brexit boost the Scottish independence movement?

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, Scotland voted about 62% to remain in the EU, but the UK overall voted to leave. Many Scots felt pulled out of the EU against their expressed will, which the SNP used as an argument that Scotland needs independence to make its own choices.

### Is Scottish independence an example of regime change?

Not exactly, and that distinction is exam gold. Scottish independence would change the *state* by redrawing the UK's borders, which is bigger than regime change (replacing the rules and institutions) or government change (replacing officeholders). Use it to show you understand the government, regime, and state hierarchy from Unit 1.

## Related Study Guides

- [1.6 Change in Power and Authority](/ap-comp-gov/unit-1/change-in-power-and-authority/study-guide/JGYcmwUpH577IiEEWap1)

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