School of Geography and the Environment

Announcements of North Sea oil discoveries in the early 1970's and subsequent plans for major petroleum infrastructure development in Shetland rapidly stimulated fears that the 'Shetland way of life' could be irreparably damaged by the disruption that development would cause. These perceived threats, whether realistic or not, were the initial driving force behind concerted efforts to preserve and protect the culture and identity of the islands. Fuelled by the additional time and money that oil-related prosperity was able to provide, these efforts actually resulted in something of a cultural renaissance and the development of a more confident Shetland identity. Yet though this revival may have resulted in a more vibrant cultural environment, it certainly has not prevented changes in Shetland's culture and identity. The 'Shetland way of life', so often mentioned in local discourse, has changed greatly from that of the pre-oil era and the more distant historical precedents on which Shetlanders' identities are so heavily based, despite continued claims to these historical elements.

Identity in Shetland remains dynamic despite the continued historical claims to Norse heritage and to idealised ideas of fishing and crofting activities (which many Shetlanders once replied upon for their livelihoods). While there exists some practical conflict between the tradition-based Shetland identity and that of today's oil-influenced way of life, the hybrid identity that results (for most Shetlanders anyway) combines modernity and tradition; the result is a 'tradition' that is itself new.