Programme

The Scottish election is over, but democracy is not. It’s often claimed that “the people are sovereign” in Scotland, so how do we exercise and build on our people power? Can we ensure that working-class people are in the driving seat by the time that independence is formally declared? What would a movement of, by and for the people look like in the twenty-first century? What would its priorities be?

This session aims to give grassroots campaigners from all over Scotland a chance to discuss what radical independence means to them, to hear what it means to others and to begin the task of building an alternative democratic network beyond the constraints of parliaments.

Scotland, Ireland and Wales are very different countries, and our national movements have different challenges – but we share a common opponent in the form of an increasingly centralised and authoritarian British state. What else do we have in common? What can we learn from each other? Most importantly, how can we work together in the months and years ahead?

This session will welcome people from across these islands for a much-needed discussion, beginning the long-term project of internationalising the Scottish independence movement by looking first to our nearest neighbours.

Today, credible arguments for independence can no longer be based around fossil fuel extraction. In this workshop, we’ll look at where grassroots pressure can push Scotland to go further in doing what’s needed to address climate change.

2021 will see Scotland under global attention as Glasgow hosts the COP26 conference – how can we make the most of this opportunity? How can we ensure independence advances the cause of climate justice? How can we bring the independence movement and the climate movement together? In this session we’ll begin to address these questions.

There’s been much discussion of civil disobedience in the independence movement, but how could we make this a reality? With Westminster dead-set on ignoring Scottish election mandates, how can the grassroots movement create pressure for self-determination and democracy?

Scotland has a wealth of experience with direct action, often opposing policies imposed by Westminster.

In this workshop, we’ll look at examples of nonviolent direct action in Scotland, and draw on that experience to think about how we can build effective, disruptive tactics which also attract public support.

Any mass movement needs to create places for people to come together. Spaces for organising, for socialising and for culture. Scotland still has a few independence hubs, but how can we build more real-life, offline locations to provide a focus in the community?

In places like the Basque Country, the independence movement has spawned radical bars, youth houses, community centres & even occupied neighbourhoods. Can we learn from this in Scotland?

This workshop will discuss how we can expand radical independence spaces, both by legally acquiring access & through direct action occupations.

We know our struggle is global, but when we see crises unfolding in other countries we often feel powerless to react. Protests come and go, but how do we build international relationships of solidarity that get us closer to the results we want?

Speakers from Palestine, Puerto Rico and more TBC will introduce the workshop with an update on the situation in their countries, and how people in Scotland can help most effectively.

We’ll then move into a general discussion about how RIC can build power through international solidarity, and what we can learn from independence and revolutionary political movements abroad.