Scotland Institute

The Scotland Institute is a think tank operating in Scotland which describes itself as "progressive and independent".[1] It was founded and entirely funded by Dr Azeem Ibrahim, a Glasgow-born expert in strategic policy development, and formally launched in June 2012 by leading politicians Alistair Darling, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson, SNP Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Jim Mather MSP and Scottish Conservative Jackson Carlaw.[2]

Launch of Scotland Institute in Glasgow. From left Jo Swinson MP (Liberal Democrats), Jackson Carlaw MSP (Conservative Party), Dr Azeem Ibrahim, Alistair Darling MP (Labour Party) and Jim Mather MSP (Scottish National Party)

The institute examined questions around Scottish independence from a neutral, academic perspective and produced a number of policy reports, including well-referenced reports on defence provision, poverty and social exclusion in the run-up to and following the independence referendum in Scotland[3][4]

Its 'Defence and Security in an independent Scotland' document considered the impact on defence in Scotland in the event of a Yes vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[5][6] Dr Ibrahim also wrote a follow-up article expanding the Institute's findings.[7]

The institute states that it provides “objective analysis from credible scholars” in its compiling of reports. Its widely reported defence paper included commentary and analysis from Major-General Andrew Mackay CBE, a former Afghanistan Task Force Commander, as well as former secretaries of defence and various eminent scholars.

The report, published on 20 June 2013, concluded that Scotland could have its own defence force, but that the costs would be excessive, and that the new force would not provide added security.

On 2 March 2014 The Scotland Institute published a report calling for school starting age in Scotland to be lowered to the age of four. The report, titled ‘Early Start 4 Scotland’, called for lowering the school starting age in Scotland in an effort to help children in low-income families and to better equip them to compete on the global stage.

On 26 January 2016 the institute published a report on the rising number of benefit claimants in Scotland, despite an economic recovery. The report concluded that societal caps and attacks on the workplace had contributed to this rise, rather than any evidence of a “work-shy” population.

Its mission statement, via the official website, states: “We want our research to have a real, practical and lasting impact on the lives of those living in Scotland today.

The Scotland Institute aims to conduct high-quality research to find innovative ways of developing a sustainable, competitive economy where wealth is fairly distributed, and the issues of social exclusion and deprivation can be tackled.

Aims & Objectives: To support an intelligent debate on Scotland’s constitutional future by providing timely evidence and rigorous analysis of the issues in the debate on Scottish Independence. To turn Scotland from an economy which relies on an ever-dwindling supply of resources to a sustainable economy which relies on resources which will still be available for future generations To tackle social exclusion and the uneven distribution of wealth, so that the wealth which the Scottish economy produces benefits the poor as well as the rich. To offer policy analysis on how Scotland can make its economy more competitive.”

From the institute’s website: “The Scotland Institute is a progressive and independent think tank set up to deal with the changing face of Scotland. We aim to investigate the implications of devolution, find innovative solutions to the problems of social exclusion and encourage Scotland’s competitiveness in the global market. Through high-quality comprehensive research and policy making we hope to put Scotland on a path towards a more competitive, progressive, and optimistic future. We need not look far for inspiration; for like the philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment, we believe that ideas are the guiding light which can change the face of society for the better.”