An elderly man wets his lips and presses them on the mouthpiece of his bagpipe. After a few notes, he stops to readjust his kilt, then quickly resumes his tune—a light, almost whiny, cacophony of sounds. A couple of university students emerge from an adjacent pub, the smell of Scotch whiskey still fresh on their breath. They stop for a few moments to listen to the bagpiper, and then scurry into the restaurant next door that boasts a sign “Best haggis, neeps, and tatties in Edinburgh!” Right above the restaurant’s sign, the Scottish flag flaps proudly, almost to the beat of the bagpipe. This is Scotland, in all its quintessential glory.
But to some residents, something in this scene hits a bitter chord. Right next to the blue and white Saltire, the Union Jack tosses in the bitter breeze. Wherever the Scottish flag flies, he follows closely—a constant reminder of Scotland’s bond to England. The merger came about through the 1707 Acts of Union, although each country had entirely different motives behind the marriage. England sought political stability in fear that Scotland would choose its own monarch, and Scotland needed a financial savior after the Darien Disaster, in which the country poured about one quarter of its currency into the failed colony of Caledonia. Nevertheless, the two countries unified to form Great Britain, and the marriage still stands today.
However, the relationship is currently under fire, as Scotland will vote on a referendum for independence in September 2014. If the referendum passes, the Union will be dissolved, and Scotland will enjoy independence yet again. With the voting date quickly approaching, activists from both sides dot the streets and newspapers of Edinburgh.
“Vote YES for a brighter future!”
“Better TOGETHER! Prosperity, security, and INTERdependence!”
Given that the decision will have considerable economic, sociopolitical, and cultural effects, it is crucial to genuinely consider both sides to the argument.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), which has spearheaded the independence movement, cites self-determination as one of the leading motivators. The SNP believes that the workers of Scotland deserve to reap the full benefits of their labor; they should not be funneled away from the country because of a unification that came about under extenuating circumstances, when Scotland was financially vulnerable. Secondly, the SNP argues that an independent Scotland will be able to restore fiscal autonomy and promote economic growth via tax cuts. An independent Scotland also stands to gain economically because of the country’s natural resource endowment—particularly in North Sea oil fields. The SNP asserts that these resources should be reserved for the exclusive use and benefit of the Scottish. Lastly, because Scotland already has its own legal system, complete with a separate parliament, separatists believe that Scotland will thrive as an autonomous nation.
However, much of Scotland (77 percent as of mid-2012) is still skeptical and holds that the two nations are better together. Firstly, English and Scottish financial markets are closely linked and have a strong, joint future in the wake of globalization. Independently, Scotland may struggle to meet the challenges of a globally integrated world. In line with this, unification also acts as a buffer against macroeconomic fluctuations, which is crucial considering Scotland’s expenditures exceed its revenues by about 13 billion pounds. In addition, an independent Scotland would have to redefine its position within the EU and ties to the British pound, which could further complicate the country’s fiscal arena. In terms of national security, Scotland is currently backed by the British Armed Forces and would stand to lose this extremely valuable resource. Lastly, devolution may sever ties and heighten bitterness between the two countries. Given that many Scottish natives live in England and many English live in Scotland, anti-separatists argue that the mixture of cultures is worth preserving.
As long as pro-Union support stays around current levels, it is unlikely that Scottish independence will become a reality. Honestly, this is does not come as a shock. Political theorists point out that, despite the presence of separatist movements around the world, no major changes to country borders have been made since the post-WWI era. Declaring independence is a complex process with critical socio-politico-economic consequences, some of which may be unforeseeable. Therefore, voters should proceed with caution and think carefully about the consequences of their actions.
Alex Rallo graduated from Georgetown University's College of Arts and Sciences magna cum laude in 2015 with a degree in economics. She participated in the Berkley Center's Junior Year Abroad Network while studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland during the fall of 2013.
