At the beginning of the twenty-first century, thousands of adult Europeans regularly dress up as Scots. They march in kilted pipe and drum bands, toss tree trunks at Highland Games strength competitions, campaign for monuments to commemorate long-gone Scottish soldiers, even physically re-enact the Scottish past, in armour and belted plaid. Their largest festivals attract more than 20,000 people, and some of their more elaborate clubs and bands are recognised by Scottish clan chiefs.
The Scotland that is on their minds is hardly ever modern Scotland, the place on the map. Rather, it is a...