From the early colonisers and traders going out into the world, to leading intellectuals of the Enlightenment, we can recognise many Scots as significant examples of Transnational and Global actors. So, should we really be surprised by the involvement of Scots in the Esperanto movement, right from the movement’s origins? Perhaps not. In 1911, 100 Scots travelled to Antwerp in order to attend the 7th World Esperanto Congress. This is where this study shall take its starting point.
The Antwerp Congress 1911 was the largest World Esperanto Congress to have been held since the first in 1905, with a recorded 1,800 attendees. Esperanto itself, is a constructed language, intended to bring together people and nations, creating a transnational network through language and the communication of likeminded individuals and groups. In creating this network, a route for communication and connectiveness, it provides a clear example of a Transnational environment and interaction, through which we can investigate the interaction and experience of Scottish individuals within the Esperanto movement.
Using the register of attendees – where the 100 Scottish attendants are recorded – we can begin to pose questions to drive and direct further study into the level and character of Scottish interaction with the Esperanto movement. To do this there will be an initial analysis of the data using comparative methods. By systematically comparing this data with other sets it will become clear as to the extent of the abnormality, or normality, of this level of Scottish participation in the Esperanto movement. Comparison is a good analytical method to be applied and viewed through a transnational lens as it can show relationship Scotland had with the movement and other nations. Firstly, we can compare the number of Scottish attendants with the number of attendants from countries of a similar population. Initial observation indicates suggests a higher involvement from Scots than comparable nations such as Denmark.[1] From here there will be further comparison made between Scottish attendance numbers at the 1911 Congress and at former and subsequent Congresses in the pre-war period. These comparisons will indicate the consistency and character of Scottish participation within the Esperanto movement.
In doing this we will be able to see whether there were any significant increases or decreases in Scottish attendance and when. If we see an increase in Scottish attendance at this congress, whether sudden or gradual, we can begin to pose other questions that can gradually become increasingly detailed in aim and scope. If we see an increase the next driving question becomes why? More specifically, why Antwerp? – Was it easier to travel to; was this a response to a growing movement in Scotland or the work and influence of key individuals; was there an underlying social sentiment among the Scottish that they want more international interaction, possibly distinguished from the influence of England?
At this point, initial ideas indicate that there was an increase in the participation of Scots in the Esperanto movement at home, and so increased participation in the Congress makes sense. If this is the case, then the next step would be to question, once again, why? Was this increase the work of clubs and Esperanto organisations, or that of key individuals? Furthermore, increased participation begs the question of who within Scottish society this may include – was there a specific profession, or a preference of gender within the Scottish Esperanto movement. The register indicates the professions of many of the participants. Also, a collection of Scottish Esperantist, John Beveridge, are available. Analysis of these should point to some of the answers to these driving questions
Once
some of the specifics of what made up the Scottish Esperanto movement are
established, it may be prudent to question why Scottish attendance was so high
when compared with other countries of similar population size. In doing this we
should be able to identify some of the ways in which social and intellectual
cultures in Scotland and other European countries converge, diverge and
interact. Mostly, it should point to key factors that influenced Scottish
involvement with the Esperanto movement.
[1] Scottish population 1911 – 4,761,000*; Scottish attendance – 100
Danish population 1911 – 2,747,000*; Danish attendance – 9
Austrian population – 6,669,000*; Austrian attendance – 37
*rounded to the nearest thousand. r