Wilson, James N.

2018-05-22T12:50:15Z

2018-05-22T12:50:15Z

1983

This thesis offers an anthropological study of the Orkney archipelago. It demonstrates the extent to which outsiders have always sought to influence the life of the islands. In doing this, it draws a distinction between pragmatic and romantic incomers. Pragmatic incomers have always come to Orkney for a purpose, most often to take up the possession of land or office. They have established a tradition of incomer hegemony, which dominates the formal political mechanisms of the islands. In contrast, a recent influx of romantically minded English middle class incomers has changed this pattern. These people have settled in Orkney as a means of escaping the modern world. Similar individuals are to be found in other parts of the North, but Orkney is unique in having a large concentration of these "white settlers". However, Orkney's romantic incomers have not been accommodated within the established incomer hegemony. Despite this, they have acquired an outstanding degree of local political control through their activities as conservationists. Here, the mechanism of political organisation has been the voluntary association. The importance of voluntary association as a social and political device is considered in detail. Thus, the romantics have acquired power through informal means.

The attributes of pragmatic and romantic incomers alike are reviewed. The evolution of the tradition of pragmatic incomer dominance is traced from earliest times. The difference between the romantics and the pragmatists and the success of the romantics in winning power are explored in a general fashion, before being illustrated in four case studies concerned with environmental protests.

Ultimately, the claim that incomers have always exerted influence over local life is substantiated. This is offered as an important insight into the politics of island life. Indeed, it is suggested that the example of incomer influence within Orkney may very well be unique in the context of Scotland as a whole. In this way, the thesis claims to have taken up and to have highlighted a compelling issue.

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/30933

The University of Edinburgh

Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2018 Block 19

Pragmatic and romantic incomers: a study of power and influence in Orkney

Thesis or Dissertation

Doctoral

PhD Doctor of Philosophy