"the most stabilizing injection the EU can receive in the foreseeable future would be the rapid ascension of an independent Scotland to membership status"
My support for Scottish independence is not entirely founded on my Scottish national identity. In fact, within the movement I would probably be known as a pragmatic nationalist and though it could be seen as derogatory, fundamentally, I guess this is correct.
If remaining within the UK had provided a path to provide for the most vulnerable in our society more effectively than Scottish independence, then there would have been less of a need for Scottish Independence.
It was clear that the UK was not going to be able to address the issues that needed fixing whether that was the economy or welfare.
"One of the strongest cases made for remaining a member of the UK was centred around preserving the countries position as an important actor in world politics. That vision has now been shattered."
The case was strong then, but the pragmatic case is now unassailable. This is probably why Duestche Bank and JP Morgan now believe that Scotland will be independent by 2020.
One of the strongest cases made for remaining a member of the UK was centred around preserving the countries position as an important actor in world politics. That vision has now been shattered following the decision on June 23rd to leave the EU and the shambolic aftermath culminating in Boris Johnson being made Foreign Secretary which I’m pretty sure is one of the signs of the apocalypse.
Not only did this chain of events irreversibly damage Britain's reputation as a capable international player, it also delivered what could yet prove to be a fatal wound to an already ailing European Project at a time when it is needed more than ever.
In a world with so many existential threats facing humanity, we need a reformed EU to coordinate European action whether it be on terrorism, climate change or mass migration.
The price of failure would be a continent turned in on itself: reactionary, backward and unstable.
The EU faces fights on multiple fronts and unless it is stabilised soon it will meet a demise similar to that seen by many other large civilizations throughout history.
And like those other empires that fell apart under centrifugal pressure from within, the collapse will not create stability or prosperity for those living within its boundaries.
The challenge for those interested in Europe's success lies in how best to stave off the rise in Euroscepticism across the continent. I would argue that the most stabilizing injection the EU can receive in the foreseeable future would be the rapid ascension of an independent Scotland to membership status. The Project would trade in a reluctant and often outright unhelpful partner for one that will likely have a significant proportion of the population feeling like citizens of Europe in a key strategic location in the North for the Atlantic Ocean covering the entrance to the Baltic.
A partner that is leading the way in democratic participation, in LGBT rights and in research and innovation.
Perhaps with this push the EU might finally make headway towards a more federal union that has the powers necessary to deal with the issues faced by Europeans across the continent.
Regardless, an independent Scotland’s smooth entrance to the EU will at the very least give enough breathing space for action to be taken. Action that is drastically needed to move towards a brighter future.
Commentaires