Uneasy Island

Why does Scotland want to break away from the UK? Or is it Britain? I am always confused by those terms, but you know what I am asking. Tim Marshall’s The Power of Geography gives a lot of background relevant to that question.

 

For centuries, England (the southern half of that island) understood that they were open to invasion from all sides – Roman, Viking, and Norman invasions had proven that. Given England’s size and thus its population, the invaders would always have larger armies. As if this wasn’t bad enough, it would be disastrous if an enemy force allied with Scotland – the enemy would be at the gates. Worse, England would have to fight a two-front war: on sea and on land.

 

Inevitably then, England felt it had to control the entire island. The Scots, on the other hand, had no interest in being subsumed into a unified island where the English would dominate.

 

An uneasy and intermittently violated peace existed between the two. Until other things happened. Like England’s growing empire juxtaposed against a stagnant Scotland. Successive crop failures in Scotland meant it was tottering. A desperate Scotland tried its hand at colonization and failed.

 

While Scotland may have been on the brink of collapse, England worried that France might swoop in to save the day… and get a military alliance in return. England therefore offered better terms and the island had a unified government for the first time. This then was a marriage of convenience, a meeting of the heads, not a meeting of the hearts.

 

And then Brexit happened. The Scots were furious that while the overall vote had been for an exit, the Scottish areas had voted to stay. Why should they lose all the benefits of being part of the EU, fumed the Scots. Brexit then is the latest reason why there is a surge for Scottish independence, apart from the old complaints that they don’t get a fair deal and are treated like the junior partner.

 

An uneasy but unified entity exists… for now.