ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to examine the myth of egalitarianism in Scotland, and explains why and in what ways it has proved to be so prevalent and resilient. It explores the Scottish myth of egalitarianism, not as some inert and historical force, but as a living force which is drawn up to explain and to reinforce identity. In many respects, egalitarianism was a key element in a conservative ideology which congratulated itself on the openness of Scottish society and its social institutions. The apparent paradox of egalitarianism and social inequality can be reconciled. The ‘idealist’ bias of the Gaidhealtachd myth grew up in a public sphere with a limited and middle class readership and orientation, and was not without aristocratic and royal associations. In the Scottish myth, the inherent egalitarianism of the Scots is the central motif. This motif appears in many different ways at different levels.
