Nicola McEwen

Nicola McEwen's picture
Professor
Nicola
McEwen
Organisation: 
University of Edinburgh
Phone Number: 
+44 (0)131 651 1831
Email Address: 
N.McEwen@ed.ac.uk
Biography: 

Nicola McEwen is a Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, and Associate Director of the ESRC Centre on Constitutional Change (CCC). She was appointed ESRC Senior Scotland Fellow, exploring Scotland’s external and intergovernmental relations in the event of independence. This external dimension to the future of Scotland remains the focus of her research within the SCCC. A political scientist at Edinburgh since 2001, Nicola specialises in research on devolution, territorial politics and multi-level governance. Within these broad fields, her research has examined: nationalism and territorial politics; intergovernmental relations; public policy (especially social welfare and energy policy); parties and elections; and voting behaviour.

Her focus is primarily on Scotland, but often also addresses developments in similar ‘sub-state nations’, including Quebec, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Flanders. Nicola is also Associate Director of Research at Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science, and Managing Editor of the journal, Regional and Federal Studies, the leading European journal in the field of territorial politics.

She is a frequent contributor to radio, television and print news outlets, offering commentary on elections, government and policy, and the Scottish constitutional debate. Recent publications can be found at:

http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/research/mcewen_nicola

Project Job Role: 
Co-Director, Centre on Constitutional Change
Expertise: 
Voting
independence
Devolution
Welfare
energy

History

Blog
View recent blog entries
Member for
4 years 10 months

Posts by this author:

Crisis, Headache or Sideshow?

Different political actors have responded to the decision by the Scottish Parliament to withhold its consent for the UK Government’s showpiece EU (Withdrawal) Bill in very different ways. Prof Nicola McEwen sifts the facts from the hyperbole and explains where we are and where we go from here.    Af... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

A Continuing Source of Disagreement

The devolved legislatures’ ‘continuity’ legislation prepares their statute books for Brexit in the event of an ongoing impasse with the UK Government over the so-called ‘power grab’ in the EU Withdrawal Bill. Professor Nicola McEwen suggests these ongoing discussions and debates provide insight into... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Trust in a Time of Brexit

The fundamental issue with Clause 11 of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which allows the UK parliament and government to retain competence in areas of devolved responsibility, is one of trust, says Nicola McEwen.    One of the primary purposes of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is to convert existing EU law into... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

With or without you…? The EU Withdrawal Bill, the devolved institutions and legislative consent

The EU Withdrawal Bill passed its first parliamentary hurdle in the House of Commons on Monday night. On Tuesday, both the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government tabled legislative consent memorandums making clear their opposition to the Bill as it stands. Professor Nicola McEwen highlights th... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Can UK intergovernmental relations be rebooted?

Posted orginally on the Academy of Government blog >> Brexit poses profound challenges for relations between the UK and devolved governments. But, can the lack of understanding and trust that characterised intergovernmental relations in the months before the election give way to more positive... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Negotiating Brexit in a devolved state: The dynamics of intergovernmental relations

Theresa May has repeatedly declared her commitment to involving the devolved governments in the Brexit process. In this post, Nicola McEwen discusses the likely dynamics of Brexit negotiations between the UK’s four governments. She argues that if the intergovernmental process fails to give a meaning... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Disunited Kingdom: Will Brexit spark the disintegration of the UK?

The vote to leave the European Union has ignited the debate about the future of the United Kingdom. Could Scotland be on the verge of independence? Nicola McEwen investigates.This article appeared originally in the September 2016 edition of Political Insight. For some time now, it has been difficult... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Brexit Reflections - One answer, many questions?

Last Thursday’s referendum may have answered one question, but it has spawned many more. How does the UK leave the EU? When do we leave? What does leave mean? And what does it all mean for Scotland? In theory, the ‘how’, at least, is clear. The process is set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on Europ... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

How Brexit could open up new constituency of support for independence among middle-class Scots

Brexit may open a new constituency of support for Scottish independence but, says Nicola McEwen, the implications of the change for independence are about far more than political arithmetic.   In September 2014, Scots voted by a clear majority to remain within the United Kingdom. Less than two years... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

Can Holyrood be one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world?

The Prime Minister has claimed that the Scotland Bill, once enacted, will deliver one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. Is he right? It depends upon what we mean by "devolved". And it depends upon what we mean by "powerful". Devolution refers to the decentralisation of power fr... Read more
Post type: Blog entry

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Latest blogs

  • Call for Abstracts - Majority Nationalism in Plurinational States: Responding to Challenges from Above and Below

    13th June 2018

    While populist leaders and movements make headlines worldwide, an often more subtle majority nationalism remains an endemic condition of the modern world. This phenomenon is comparatively understudied. The Centre on Constitutional Change invites calls for abstracts for an international workshop on the topic of majority nationalism, to be held in February 2019.

  • Is Small Always Beautiful?

    31st May 2018
    independence, Scotland

    The recent report by the Growth Commission contains some interesting ideas, says Michael Keating, but also makes some problematic assumptions.

  • Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon

    A new chapter in Welsh-Scottish relations?

    30th May 2018
    Wales, Scotland, Brexit

    The Scottish and Welsh Governments worked together closely during their negotiations with the UK Government over those aspects of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that related to devolution. Despite ultimately choosing different paths, say Hedydd Phylip and Greg Davies, this spirit of cooperation looks set to continue.

  • SCOTLAND THE NEW CASE FOR OPTIMISM

    A new vision of independence?

    28th May 2018
    Scottish Politics, SNP, Economy

    The highly-anticipated publication of 'Scotland: A New Case for Optimism' outlines the new economic case for independence but, asks Coree Brown-Swan, it remains to be seen whether this will prompt a constructive debate by Unionists and Nationalists alike about some of Scotland's economic woes.

  • Shattered Brexit Pic

    Crisis, Headache or Sideshow?

    18th May 2018
    Brexit, British & Scottish Politics

    Different political actors have responded to the decision by the Scottish Parliament to withhold its consent for the UK Government’s showpiece EU (Withdrawal) Bill in very different ways. Prof Nicola McEwen sifts the facts from the hyperbole and explains where we are and where we go from here.

Read More Posts