There is no real single entity that can be identified as a singular “Scottish separatist movement”, but rather, there are smaller groups which could be put together under that banner of separatism. In fact, those groups could be on the verge of victory this year, as Scotland prepares for its most important referendum in its history - asking the simple, yet loaded question: “should Scotland be an independent country?” But, before that day comes, we should look at the means for why Scotland should consider this as a viable replacement for governance as part of the United Kingdom. What influence was there in this idea of separation from the UK? What caused this movement to take form? Are their ideals democratic? How can Scotland possibly survive without the UK and its benefits? As we are steeped in very current affairs, there’s quite a lot that will change over time, but that doesn’t stop us from diving deep into what makes this movement tick.
However, to understand that ticking, we need to understand the country itself. Scotland had its start as an independent nation, starting from its founding in the earliest period of the Middle Ages. However, there was constant turmoil over the years, as there were two wars for independence (from 1296-1306 and 1332-1357, respectively), leading up to 1707, when the Treaty of Union was passed (which allowed for the kingdoms of Scotland and England to unionize). In those times, the merger between the Scottish and the English was seen as hostile, but later developed into a powerful partnership that was unlike anything that was ever experienced before in those times. Scotland, however, still wasn’t very convinced that this was a measure which needed to take place, as the ratification of the Treaty o...
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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.
It was this belief that prevented the Scottish people from intermingling with the surrounding nations and ultimately birthed a form of ethnic pride
...Union is three hundred years old for a reason: it simply works. Scotland benefits from the economies of scale, the checks and balances of one of the world's richest countries. The UK benefits from the flood of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs that Scotland has always provided. It is a sad fact that the small and isolated are suffering in the present financial climate - just observe Ireland and Iceland. Although devolution is a contemporary issue and its resurgence is inevitable in terms of the new Scottish government, concepts of total home rule are merely a novelty dreamt up amongst the hype and publicity of the anniversary of the Act of Union. It is something of a fashion that will pass with time, thus leaving us in yet another prosperous and peaceful period in Scotland's social and political history and more importantly the history of the United Kingdom.
Tories. Of the four polls carried out in the two days prior to the actual
No. Calls to rid Scotland of its legal “demon child” have long gained support. From the 60,000 strong petition in the wake of the damming Amanda Duffy trail , to more recently the Scottish Labour party backing the initial abolition proposal in 2007 but yet eight years later this verdict remains. It is time to back our MSP’s and relinquish Scots law of its “bastard verdict” and let Scots law prosper and flourish unchained from its 18th century
Henderson, Ailsa. Hierarchies of belonging: National identity and political culture in Scotland and Quebec. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2007.
...gan to intermarry. The same people even held both thrones for a while. The countries, however, remained separate until 1707, when the Official Act of Union created the United Kingdom. This battle had a huge impact on both countries but it will always be remembered as an impressive victory for the Scottish
Sanders, D., Clarke, H., Stewart, M. and Whiteley, P. (2005) The 2005 General Election in Great Britain, [Online], Available: http://www.essex.ac.uk/bes/Papers/ec%20report%20final.pdf [Date Accessed: 25/01/2014].
Knowing that I was where I felt I belonged, was the best feeling in the world. All of the scenery, the important places we saw, the beautiful buildings and animals, was a site I will never forget. Being Scottish used to just be cool to me knowing that my Grandad was born in Scotland and that I had Scottish blood in my veins. After I saw the house he was born in, it changed my viewpoints, I felt that Scotland was one of the most beautiful places I knew about, and being apart of that wasn’t something I should take lightly.
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...
In their book, Smith and Wistrich state that Britain sensed a problem in the identity once there has been devolution of power to Scotland and Wales in 1998 (2009). It maybe true that Scots and Welsh feel more attached to their own na...
In 1603 the Scottish and English monarchies were united and at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the monarchy of the United Kingdom was deprived of the decision-making privilege they once had. For the purpose of this essay, I intend to examine the many different arguments both for and against the British monarchy being abolished. Proponents argue strongly that the monarchy symbolises all that is British throughout Britain and the Commonwealth Realms. However, contrary to this, the monarchy receives exorbitant financial aid from the British taxpayers to maintain the monarchy. Does the monarchy have a place in the twenty first century?
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.