Prior to 1707 the island of great Britain housed two separate kingdoms , the kingdom of England and that of Scotland, although both had been under the rule of the same monarch since 1603, they were separate entities with individual parliaments. However with the acts of union- which proposed the joining of the two kingdoms – passed and both were amalgamated forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the act also brought them together under the parliament of Great Britain. While a surrender of independence was unpopular in Scotland, more than 300 years later, Scotland has not fully given up her national identity and thoughts for independence. With the approaching referendum, a crucial event which would define the future of Scotland, the viability of an independent Scotland is questioned. The objective of this essay is to argue against the proposed independence of Scotland, examining key economic, social and political reasons why Scotland should remain united.
An independent Scotland is undesirable as it would be economically volatile, heavily depending on North Sea oil revenues. Upon independence, North Sea oil revenues would account for 10-20% of Scotland’s GDP (BBC 2013a), it would lose £7 billion it receives from the UK government yearly (The Telegraph 2014), and will be allocated its share of the UK’s £1.4 trillion national debt. Coupled with this, public expenditure per head is substantially higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK (BBC 2013a). However, Scotland boasts a wide range of sectors, it is a leading provider in renewable energy constituting 25% and 10% Europe’s off shore wind and tidal resources, 19% of it wave resource respectively and its food and drink sector accounts for 18% of its international exports, espec...
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...Economy Statistics. [Online] Available at: http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Q/pno/1 [Accessed: 14 Feb 2014].
The Guardian. (2013).Scottish independence and its impact on higher education – live chat. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2013/nov/26/scottish-independence-future-higher-education [Accessed: 14 Feb 2014]
The Guardian. (2014). Scottish independence: the economic implications. [Online] 7 February. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/07/scottish-independence-economic-implications-niesr [Accessed: 14 Feb 2014].
The Telegraph. (2014). Independent Scotland 'faces spiralling black hole in finances'. [Online] 07 February. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/10624305/Independent-Scotland-faces-spiralling-black-hole-in-finances.html [Accessed: 13 Feb 2014].
”Examine the extent to which the benefits of UK membership in the European Union outweigh the costs”
trade in Canada, and even the whole world. Quebec is a big trade market in
In society, independent learners are those who seek to further their education to the next level. In the article, “Why We Are Looking at the ‘Value’ of College All Wrong” by Valerie Strauss, Christopher B. Nelson argues that people can’t compare economics with receiving a higher education. Individuals who look at college from an economic lens view education the wrong way. Instead, individuals should look at the bigger picture, which is gaining an education and taking in the knowledge.
Scottish devolution, with its advantages and disadvantages, is the best example of how great political and social changes can be achieved not through bloody revolution but with the patience, intelligence and hard work of a united country but is still a work in progress.
Tom Newton Dunn, ‘Go to the war on the Eurom Law’ The Sun, 7 February 2011accessed 29 March 2011 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3395471/David-Cameron-urged-to-go-to-war-over-Euro-law.html
Since the very beginning of the colonization of Canada in the late 15th century, there has been a dispute and anger between the British and the French. This arguing is also present in the ongoing conflict between the French-speaking region of Quebec and the rest of Canada. The conflict has been discussed in the Canadian parliament and this is also the origin of the idea that Quebec should be an independent nation. The first part of the essay will cover the general history behind the dispute between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Then the essay will go on to discuss the positive and negative sides of a possible separation. The final part of the essay will compare the situation in Canada with the separation of Pakistan and East Pakistan in the 1970’s. Then go on to conclude whether or not a secession is possible for Quebec. Therefore, my research question is; is there a possibility that the province of Quebec could separate from the rest of Canada?
...nnot be legitimized by his loyalty to Scotland, it is only a political rule. He therefore also lacks the ‘‘king becoming graces’’ of devotion.
This document defines independence because it states the terms on why the colonies need to be free from the control of the king. The co...
The Irish and British governments fought for many years over the ownership of Northern Ireland. Britain had main control over Northern Ireland, and Ireland did not think that was fair. Be...
What's big, cheap, Scottish and depressing? Scotland. This is one of the many jokes that Scots make about themselves. The Scots have a massive history that goes back to the 1500’s and even earlier that have shaped modern day Scots and how we look at them. From the start of the Clan Wars, to the fight that Bonnie Prince Charlie brought.Scottish history has affected how Scots act like and different among others. Scots have reputation for being blood thirsty, cheap, bagpipe playing and kilt wearing people. Many patterns of behavior can be traced back to a root cause in history. Common Scottish behaviors were shaped by major events in Scottish history.
Not a unified and separate country until 1921, Northern Ireland has had cultural, financial, and economic that makes it stand affront from the rest of the Emerald Isles. With its close proximity to England and the immigration all through the 1600s of English and Scottish, Northern Ireland has become more anglicized th...
Chronicle of Higher Education 11 Feb. 2011: A20-A21. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Scotland had become unstable since there was no one ruling while King James was in
On the one hand, without international relations from the EU, Britain is economically and socially vulnerable. While Britain’s exit from the EU may define Britain’s power according to British citizens, the type of power that matters is relative power, which is the power when it is being compared to other states. If the other states do not recognize Britain as a force of power, then its exit from the EU is pointless. On the other hand, by discontinuing the benefits granted by the EU, Britain declines the assistance that could have helped the country to become more powerful. In other words, Brexit decreases a source of gathering power for Britain, since the EU not only offers economic opportunities, but it also provides useful information so that the member states can behave accordingly. Overall, realism suggests that while Brexit increases Britain’s confidence in being powerful, it also decreases the country’s power in a way.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (London: 2005). pp. 51, 71-72. Accessed May 3, 2014. http://www.jhud.co.uk/huddleston/uk2005_tcm77-248610.pdf.