We begin by asking how many Scotlands there are and how we may make sense of them. Geography has long acted as a way of dividing the country – for example Highland versus Lowland, Glasgow versus Edinburgh, etc. – but people also have an overarching sense of belonging to another Scotland, whatever it might be. There are those who feel part of civic Scotland and those who feel excluded. There are social, religious and cultural differences within Scotland, as within any country. What we focus on and set out in this initial chapter is how we will differentiate them and approach our task, by unpicking the various elements within Scottish life, to expose the many Scotlands that exist, and the many Scots who inhabit them.