A Royal Society of Edinburgh event
Bringing the margins to the centre to shape a fairer and more united Scotland through empathy and inclusion.
As Scotland approaches the 2026 parliamentary elections, the stakes for inclusion and cohesion have rarely been higher. Across the country, polarisation, mistrust, and a sense of being “left behind” are eroding political trust. Yet Scotland’s future depends on its ability to bring diverse voices together, move from division to empathy, and shift marginalised perspectives from the edge to the centre of decision-making.
This two-hour roundtable will bring together community leaders, activists, academics and policymakers to consider:
- Who feels included in Scotland’s future, and who remains on the margins?
- How can empathy and shared purpose help address Scotland’s deepest challenges – from child poverty and housing insecurity to climate crises, demographic change, and democratic renewal?
- What would inclusive policymaking look like over the next parliamentary term?
Listen in on the discussion as participants will begin to build a roadmap for a fairer, more cohesive Scotland, moving from polarisation to empathy, and from the margins to the centre of decision-making.
Book here: https://rse.org.uk/event/scotland-2026-who-gets-to-belong/