CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says a centralised system steamrolling over local empowerment is destined to collapse 

I'M NOT long back from a very pleasant week-long break in the West Highlands and Argyll. Along with the joy of jaw-dropping beauty which seems to be around every corner, it just reminded me again that the form of politics we have just now is not very good at 'place'.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine explains how the pitch for a Scottish National Investment Bank became a painful process

AT the risk of jinxing it by beginning to feel some real hope, could Scotland finally be about to get a national investment bank?

I think the possibility is much higher than at any time I can remember, but still this idea seems beset by obstacles and hurdles and attitudes which can perhaps best be understood through the prism of the dynamics of modern Scottish politics and policy.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine is rejoicing at the prospect of getting down to business with the independence case

HURRAY. We're finally ready to begin.

There are moments in politics where you can see a clear turning point, one which alters the dynamics. Yesterday felt like one of those.

Because in the First Minister's announcement we heard what I think was the first, solid workable and winnable route forward for Scottish independence since 2014.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine takes a look at some of the immediate challenges facing the independence movement

A FEW weeks ago I was worried that too many in the independence movement could only see the future in terms of success and were in denial about a number of problems. Now people have started to see the future only in terms of a series of problems.

So here are a few of the problems and what I think are fairly straightforward solutions.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine reveals some of the work the Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) is undertaking

I'D LIKE to apologise in advance for how much I'm writing just now but I've been rather inundated with people who want more information on what's going on and what what the indy movement could be doing next.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says the indy movement has a lot to be upbeat about after the General Election 

I REALISE that it might feel counterintuitive for a lot of you but, although disappointed, I'm feeling really quite positive about yesterday's outcomes. 

My biggest concern is absolutely not about whether we face a bigger barrier to independence (which I don't think we do) but that this may hit morale and that we could do without a dip in morale right now.

So, here are some reasons to be cheerful.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says people will look elsewhere for the politics of hope if the SNP doesn't step up

THIS WEEK I read a Guardian article which simultaneously lifted my heart and yet, as a result, left me both deeply disappointed and more than a little jealous.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says the rise in support for Jeremy Corbyn shows that people want hope and vision

AT THE advent of the New Labour years there was a sketch on the comedy programme Friday Night Armistice in which Labour MPs were taken to a training session at which they were given a gun and told to shoot a kitten.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says it's possible to turn the tide of anger and violence, but we must first be honest with ourselves

DEPRESSINGLY, it is starting to feel like the suspension of campaigning during an election in the face of some tragedy or atrocity is becoming more common than not. Even more depressingly, I see no obvious or immediate set of circumstances which will reverse this trend.