Angus Robertson

Angus Robertson

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary 2021–26 · 21 years in Parliament · Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold · Former BBC Vienna correspondent

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About

Diplomacy, External Affairs, Policy, Writing & Communications.

Angus Robertson has been the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture from 2021-26 — with responsibility for Scotland’s international office network and international strategy. He was Scotland’s lead minister for relations with the diplomatic community and international organisations, including the European Union and United Nations.

Languages English · German · French

Full biography →

Angus Robertson addressing a conference at the Scottish Parliament.
Angus Robertson, photographed at a public engagement.
Writing

Books, history, public diplomacy.

Cover of Vienna: The International Capital by Angus Robertson.
Featured

Vienna: The International Capital

A history of the city at the crossroads of Europe.

Vienna is unique amongst world capitals in its consistent international importance over the centuries — from the rise of the Habsburgs and the Congress of Vienna that reordered Europe after Napoleon, through Cold War bridge-building summits, to the modern city of UN agencies and OSCE diplomacy. Drawing on nearly a decade of original research and his own years in the city, Angus Robertson tells the story of Vienna as a meeting place of empires, ideas, and statecraft.

“A first-class book about Vienna as the crossroads of civilization and as the international capital.” Arnold Schwarzenegger
“A pleasure to read and a journey of discovery even for those who know this city well.” Alexander Van der Bellen · Federal President of Austria

More reviews & launches →

UK edition

Vienna: The International Capital

Birlinn · 2021 · 464pp · ISBN 9781788854764

Order from Birlinn →

US / international edition

The Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Vienna

Pegasus Books · 2022 · 448pp

Read the US review →
In the press

Selected coverage and commentary.

Featured in
  • The Scotsman
  • Christian Science Monitor
  • Kirkus Reviews
  • The Arts Fuse
  • Financial Times
  • European Literature Network
  • Project MUSE
  • UK Parliament
The Scotsman Book review: Vienna, The International Capital — “ambitious, panoramic and full of fascinating detail” 2021 Christian Science Monitor Vienna: City of ‘charm and flair,’ from Trajan to Mozart and beyond 2022 Kirkus Reviews The Crossroads of Civilization — “a pleasing mix of epic sweep and meticulous research” 2022 The Arts Fuse The Crossroads of Civilization — Vienna as Bridge Builder Between East and West 2022 European Literature Network Riveting Reviews: Vienna, The International Capital — “compelling and quite staggering detail” 2021 Project MUSE Vienna: The International Capital — academic review 2022 Diplomatische Akademie Wien Vienna: The International Capital — book event archive 2022

All reviews and endorsements on the biography page →

Media

Speeches, debates, policy delivery.

Parliament TV ↗
Scottish Parliament · 16 April 2024 Scotland’s International Culture Strategy — Cabinet Secretary debate opening

Career timeline on the biography page →

In print

Selected columns, op-eds and analysis.

Contact

Contact

Available for Press · Speaking · Advisory · General enquiries

Contact

contact@angusrobertson.scot

With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austria.
At a European event, with EU and Scottish flags.
With Brian Cox at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.
At Summit with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
With Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
Austrian President Van der Bellen recommends the Vienna book.
Scottish Politician of the Year, with Nicola Sturgeon.
With David McAllister MEP, European Parliament Foreign Affairs Chair.
The Edinburgh International Festival.
At an international organisation.
Meeting heads of Scottish Government and Scottish Trade International global offices.
With London-based ambassadors from Nordic and Baltic states.
External affairs engagement, Malawi.
Scottish Government, Holyrood.
Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsement of Vienna: The International Capital.
Representing Scotland internationally.
Addressing a conference at the Scottish Parliament.
With Sir Sean Connery.
Speaking at the Paris HQ of UNESCO.
UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna.
UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna.
Vienna International Centre — UNOV, UNIDO, IAEA, CTBTO.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Vienna International Centre.
United Nations engagement.
Presented with the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Austrian Republic.
Attending COP 26, Glasgow.
Lecturing at the Diplomatic Academy, Vienna.
Vienna book launch, Edinburgh University.
Filming in Austria for BBC's Correspondent.
Media coverage of Scotland's culture portfolio.
At Prime Minister's Questions, House of Commons.
Recommended reading for senior Austrian diplomats.
Meetings with the Consular Corps in Scotland.
Scotland's international network.
Cabinet Secretary, Scottish Government.
On the Scottish Parliament front bench.
Supporting the leadership team of the Alpbach Forum.
UK, US and Hungarian editions of Vienna: The International Capital.