While capitalism monopolizes, extracts, offshores and destroys everything around it, its perseverance is remarkable. Violence explains this global economic system; the war industry is one key component. But capitalism’s continuation also hinges on corporate politicians and media arguing that it is the best option and only option. This narrative, otherwise known as There Is No Alternative (TINA), has been particularly dominant in the West.

U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the UK’s opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Spain’s Podemos Party are now shaking this argument to its core. Looking deeper, they are riding a wave catalyzed by the 2008 crash, rising inequality and the climate crises.

This series seeks to define some of the cutting-edge ideas emerging within capitalism’s core, which are redefining the political landscape. Part I explores Scotland, which has been trailblazing ideas since its 2014 independence referendum. On May 5, Scots return to the polls with multiple options beyond business as usual.

Scotland’s Spark

The Indyref (Independence referendum) created a movement of movements that is now swimming strongly against UK plc. Scotland had diverted already since 1999, when it regained its parliament. Three of many examples of Scotland's progressive push include tuition free education, increasing gender parity in politics, and dramatic growth in renewable power.

Through the referendum, the Scottish National Party (SNP) cemented its popularity, while the movement of movements dragged the party left. A year later, an anti-austerity platform wiped out Labour in the UK General Election. Labour had historically dominated Scotland, but lost favor by joining the Conservatives’ Better Together referendum campaign, and all but adopting Tory policies since Tony Blair.

U.K. PLC Fallout

Pushing "austerity-light" last election, New Labour failed to beat the Conservatives across Britain, who won with just 24% of potential voters. Four months after New Labour’s Scottish demise, it was repeated island-wide; the progressive Jeremy Corbyn overwhelmed the Labour leadership contest.

Due to the sea change brought about by Corbyn, Scottish Labour is running a socially progressive campaign for the 2016 Holyrood Parliament. Their policies include opposing austerity cuts, banning fracking, opposing nuclear weapons and increasing the top tax rate to 50 percent – a 5 percent increase. Corbyn has denounced the New Labour period and its involvement in the Iraq War. But as the party lost so much trust, its target will be to not do as badly as the Conservatives moving forward.

Holyrood Scottish Elections

The momentum for independence, in addition to Labour and Conservative's demise in Scotland, make another SNP landslide almost certain this week. If it were run in many countries, the SNP’s platform would look radical, with commitments to fight for unilateral British nuclear disarmament, increase public spending on education and healthcare, and establish new aggressive renewable energy targets, above international commitments.

But questions remain over some of SNP's promises – not least to ban fracking. The SNP implemented the fracking moratorium last year; it promises only to allow the process if it can be shown to “not harm our environment, communities or public health.” This requirement should end the debate. But senior SNP politicians have a cozy relationship with the fracking industry. They have also chosen the sizable corporate accountants, KPMG, to draft their fracking report.

The SNP has also sent out mixed signals on their tax and spend plans. Parts of the party advocate a Nordic-type spending model, while others want low business tax rates. As economists will tell you: you cannot have both.

The SNP is seen by many as a vehicle to independence from a corrupt Britain. But some independence supporters suggest the SNP is becoming a new establishment that might jettison its progressive agenda. There are, however, real alternatives: radical parties assisted by a more progressive system.

Additional Member System

Scotland has a more representative democracy compared with the rest of the U.K., using the Additional Member System. It votes for 73 MSPs through a first-past-the-post system. An additional 56 are chosen through a second regional list vote, counted through proportional representation. More details can be found here. The Parliament’s architects, from Westminster, devised the Holyrood Parliament to prevent one party (the SNP) from dominating. Unintentionally, it lends itself to smaller parties coming through the regional lists, and creates the opportunity for blue sky thinking.

The Greens

Campaigning strongly alongside the SNP for a Yes vote in 2014, the Greens will aim to increase their two seats through the regional lists. Their manifesto pledges are more progressive than the SNP. The Greens call for a 60 percent top rate of tax to redistribute wealth; a constitutional process similar to Iceland to crowd-source Scotland’s constitution; a stronger push on land reforms; and delivering on LGBT equalities promises made by the SNP.

RISE

This party – which stands for Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism – is looking to shake up Scottish politics in a still newer way. With founding members from the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) who, alongside the Greens and Women For Independence, energized the indyref, RISE has already occupied one of Donald Trump’s golf courses in protest against his racist tirades.

The party has also been active in the campaign to shut down the Dungavel immigrant detention centre; one of RISE's candidates is a former detainee. In terms of policies, RISE is committed to a redistributive tax system, including a 60 percent tax rate for top earners. It wants to cap the amount of land anyone can own, and increase land redistribution. It pledges to hold a second indyref within the next parliament, and envisions a Scottish Republic without the monarchy and British currency. In comparison, the SNP’s cautious approach to independence amounts to what it calls "independence-light."

RISE’s other radical policies include building 100,000 council homes and creating more jobs, with the long-term aim of introducing a basic income. As outsiders in the electoral race, RISE’s background in people-led movements make winning seats this election a real possibility. In the largest survey of indyref supporters, nearly 40% of Yes supporters were active in the connected RIC campaign. (Their voter registration drive focused on social housing areas was crucial to Scotland achieving a 97% sign-up.)

The indyref is commonly considered as a zenith in political engagement politics, but evidence suggests this engagement has only just begun to rise. With new forms of non-corporate news becoming more mainstream, political engagement today must be understood as both a symptom and a driver of politics of real choices. Parties like RISE, the Greens and sections of the SNP are not only setting out new ideas – they are actively involved in movements fighting for change on the street, and at the ballot box.

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