David M. Smale – författare

This book is a detailed account of the Radical War in 1820s Scotland, highlighting the conditions that led to the revolt, the reaction of the government, and the impact on Scottish society.David Smale takes readers through the post-1815 mass unemployment, disaffection, and formation of radical groups calling for parliamentary reform, as a prelude to the Radical War. Using a wealth of archival material, this book readjusts existing narratives surrounding the conflict, shifting the focus away from the accounts of paid spies, and centering the little used records of the pioneering ‘new police’ force. Smale examines how police activities impacted the revolt, from the contrasting aims of pro-reformer and pro-government publications released during the time, to the activities of five ‘spy groups’ who entered the radical milieu and provided authorities with intelligence on their activities. Concluding with the key events of the revolt, including the Battle of Bonnymuir, and exploring the its after effects, such as the Lord Advocate’s conflict with police – this volume provides comprehensive analysis of the Radical War, and places it within a pan-British context.

This book is a detailed account of the Radical War in 1820s Scotland, highlighting the conditions that led to the revolt, the reaction of the government, and the impact on Scottish society.David Smale takes readers through the post-1815 mass unemployment, disaffection, and formation of radical groups calling for parliamentary reform, as a prelude to the Radical War. Using a wealth of archival material, this book readjusts existing narratives surrounding the conflict, shifting the focus away from the accounts of paid spies, and centering the little used records of the pioneering ‘new police’ force. Smale examines how police activities impacted the revolt, from the contrasting aims of pro-reformer and pro-government publications released during the time, to the activities of five ‘spy groups’ who entered the radical milieu and provided authorities with intelligence on their activities. Concluding with the key events of the revolt, including the Battle of Bonnymuir, and exploring the its after effects, such as the Lord Advocate’s conflict with police – this volume provides comprehensive analysis of the Radical War, and places it within a pan-British context.

The first social history of Scottish policing from 1900 to the present dayThis book will be the first to provide a much-needed history of the experience of policing in twentieth-century Scotland. Drawing on a wealth of archival materials, oral history interviews, memoir and autobiography, it examines the relationship between police officers and the diverse urban/rural communities they served against the backdrop of social and economic change, the ruptures of wartime, the impact of technology and the centralisation of governance. Through its analysis of the dynamics that created points of trust and co-operation as well as tension and conflict across time – with particular reference to gender, age, ethnicity and religion – it will contribute to broader current debates (outside of Scotland as well as within) about the significance of localism in assuring police legitimacy and delivering an effective service. Thus, it will also be the first book to offer a sustained historical analysis of the changing configuration of police-community relationships – from Victorian legacy to present day – highlighting patterns of chronological change as well as geographical variation.Key featuresBased on rich collection of previously unused primary source materials;Provides geographical coverage of rural areas (including highlands and islands) as well as densely populated urban areas;Focuses on social identities and the dynamics shaping police-community relationships across time in order to contribute to debates about effective policing today;Contextualises Scottish experience in relation to broader comparative frameworks.