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Scottish Independence


A lot of ink has been spilled over the years regarding the United Kingdom's role in international affairs in general and on the 'Special Relationship' with the United States in particular. In light of looming larger and larger British defense cuts the reliance of the United States on British cannon-fodder and support generally looks to decline. (See this essay in the Guardian for a good run down on many more questions.)

There has also long been chatter about devolution and its consequences in the United Kingdom. In 1998 Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were granted parliaments of their own after a 1997 referendum, but there haven't been any moves towards further devolution or outright independence.

Until now.

And that brings up a great deal of questions as to what would happen to the stature of the United Kingdom in global affairs if such a referendum passed in Scotland. (I honestly have no idea how such a referendum would fare, perhaps like those in Quebec?) One big question I haven't seen mentioned is what happens to the United Kingdom's permanent seat on the UN Security Council? And what changes would it usher if a rump UK attempted to hold on to such a seat? Lots of questions. Lots of moving parts.


Sean Paul Kelley January 10, 2012 - 5:16pm
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A rump UK?

I don't think the loss of Scotland and/or the Celtic fringe would really diminish England's world stature that much. England is 10 times bigger than Scotland by population. Wales and N.Ire. are probably too small to go it alone. Besides, I doubt Welsh nationalism is nearly as strong as Scotland's, and the Orangemen of Northern Ireland will never let it leave the the UK (unless maybe it was to join their ancestral homeland as part of a Scottish state).

That article makes it sound like nobody is especially worried at the prospect. It sounds a lot like Quebec, where the separatist party had a big win, probably for a lot of reasons other than the desire for devolution, so it seems like the opponents of independence want a referendum ASAP to quash any serious doubts about the issue.

maqmigh January 11, 2012 - 2:42am
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England still has a "world

England still has a "world stature"? It's been on a steady decline since the Battle of the Somme, and maybe it's about time the British -- and the U.S. -- recognized the fact that it really isn't all that important to anyone particularly.

http://mexfiles.net

Richard Grabman January 11, 2012 - 5:37am
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I would presume

that "world stature" includes such factors as credibility and moral leadership; one shouldn't be too dismissive, even the post-Bush USA is in the process of rebuilding some of these.

"The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Escher Sketch January 11, 2012 - 2:22pm
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