Alba gu Bràth

Welcome to the home of the Scottish Clanship Project. This study aims to define the current state of the Scottish Clans in the 21st century by examining the roles of Scots and their descendants within modern clan societies as well as the role the Clans play in the lives of those who claim Scottish descent.

Research will be conducted using interviews with and surveys of clan members, clan chiefs, and others of Scottish descent. If you fall into one of these categories, or if you have an interest in Scottish culture, please feel free to complete the appropriate Clanship Survey. 

THE PROJECT

The Scottish Clanship Project began with a simple question: “What does it mean to be a clan chief in the 21st century?” As usually happens, when one sets out to discover an answer, new questions arise and this project began to take on a broader scope. The project will begin by examining what clans are as well as how and why do clans exist in a socio-political and socio-economic context. This will include a study of Scottish clans as well as historical and modern parallels from around the world. 

Turning attention to the Scottish Clans, I question if there is a difference between “clans” and “clan societies.” We seem to use both terms interchangably, but is it accurate to do so? Is a Clan Society a modern incorporated version of a historical clan? Or do they exist separately? The Lord Lyon will reconize the “Chief of the Clan,” while generally staying out of the business of Clan Societies. For their part, the chiefs are typically not the ones running the Clan Societies or serving as officers. Who are the volunteers who run these organizations? What are the roles played by individual chiefs in their Clans and in their Clan Societies? Finally, and more personally to those individuals of Scottish descent, I hope to examine the role that historic Clan affiliations and membership in a modern Clan Society plays in their lives. 

It is the ultimate goal of this study to paint a picture of what Scottish clanship means in an international context within modern society. 

Research

The Scottish Clanship Project will begin with a combined approach of anthropological, economic, historical, and political research. In order to put Scottish clans in the appropriate context, the history of Scotland will be examined before, during, and after the age of the Clans. The economic and political systems at play within and surrounding Scotland will be analyzed to further establish the context for clanship in Scotland. Anthropological approaches will also be examined to offer comparisons to clan, tribal and other kinship based societies in both the historical setting and in the modern age. 

It is hoped that all of these avenues of research will help to explain the factors which allowed the Scottish clan system to develop, how it operated, why the system declined, and why it is experiencing a resurgence in the modern era.

Surveys

Going hand in hand with the research phase will be an intensive effort to collect data on the current state of the Scottish clans and modern clan societies using ethnographic style surveys and interviews. Efforts will target individuals of Scottish descent from recognized Clan Chiefs to those who have distant ties to Scotland; from the leaders running clan societies and Scottish Festivals to those who simply consume Scottish culture. 

The goal of these studies will be to produce a generalized picture of what it means to be Scottish. It will examine how important historical and modern clan ties are to interpersonal relationships today. It will also gather a collection of personal and group clan stories that exemplify the face of Scottishness.

Methodology

This study will be conducted in accordance with generally accepted academic and scientific standards used by historians, anthropologists, and ethnographers everywhere. Once a significant body of research and survey work have been completed, the data will be compared and contrasted to identify the similarities and differences between Scottish Clans and Clan Societies. Data will then be used to test several theories and challenge assumptions which have been formulated in the early development of this project concept. 

The study data will also be shared and reviewed through various academic and professional contacts to acquire and independent review of the underlying theories, research data, and survey results before formulating the conclusions.

Conclusions

It is too early in the project to even begin to draw conclusions. Updates will be provided on the study’s blog, as well as through (relatively) regular social media updates. It is hoped that the study will result in a better understanding of Scottishness and what draws those of Scottish descent to emulate a historical political entity within modern Western cultures where their political and protective relevance is obsolete.

One of the ultimate goals of the study is to produce a book or books outlining the results and conclusions of the Scottish Clanship Project. Again, it is too early to speculate as to the final form of any resulting publications, but further details will be provided as the project progresses.