The Scottish Government

Scotland in the World

Friday, November 30, 2007

Aberdeen University has just set up a 'Scotland in the World' Forum to consider our country's global standing and global potential.

I was invited to deliver the inaugural lecture and I was delighted to explain how the Forum will be a major part of the wider National Conversation which is about the kind of country Scotland wishes to be - and the changes that must be made to meet our ambitions.

I talked about independence and interdependence and why this Government looks to Ireland and the Nordic countries - the Arc of Prosperity around us - as working models of what can be achieved in the modern global economy if Scotland had the same powers and freedoms that these countries take for granted.

I said that Scotland's interdependence is a fact. We have a strong economic relationship with the rest of the UK, our EU partners, and beyond.

And, I argued, it is precisely because we live in an interdependent world that independence matters.

The choice for Scotland is clear. We can choose to remain a bit player - unable to advance our interests other than through the UK. Alternatively, as an independent country, we can actively seek responsibility, eager to help shape the great global debates on the environment, on trade, on poverty, on the emergence of new economies.

For me, Scottish independence is not just an opportunity to move Scotland forward, but a chance for Scotland to give something back, to meet our global responsibilities. I want Scotland to be a leader in international conflict resolution, building on the tremendous sense of goodwill towards our nation across the globe.

Scotland is considering its position in a world of close and ever-growing economic interdependence. We benefit greatly from co-operation but that does not obviate the huge economic rewards for countries that are innovative and flexible and pursuing the right economic strategy, and a clear and distinct set of interests.

That is why this Government believes that now, more than ever, Scotland stands to benefit from full independence.

Read the full text of FM's lecture

This blog is now closed to further comments.

Comments

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• 101. Colin - Angus

  Monday, March 3, 2008 23:20

  I agree with George from North Lanarkshire. We dont need to be a nation of fearties and I thikn thigs are stirring led by AS who is doing a great job as FM.
  
  The only people who are holding us back are those who hide from the prospect of allowing Scots the opportunity to set out their future direction in a referendum on independence.

• 102. David - Los Angeles, USA

  Monday, March 3, 2008 23:46

  I lived in Scotland for 30 of my 40 years and yet, living in the USA while owning a family house in Scotland, I am not allowed to vote in the Scottish elections. I hold a UK passport. I can vote in the UK-Westminster and European elections, yet I cannot vote in my own homeland's elections!
  
  Scotland is defined as a region and this fact alone bars me from voting in the Holyrood elections. I hope the SNP will change this rule as many of their most passionate voices now live outside the country.
  
  All European countries allow their overseas citizens to retain the right to vote, Scotland's overseas people deserve equal treatment.

• 103. Steve - Glasgow

  Tuesday, March 4, 2008 02:03

  99.Alan-Dunfermline
  Whats so wrong with giving the Scottish people their democratic right to vote on their constitutional future. I have yet to meet the unionist that can give an honest answer to this. And to be absolutely clear the Brit-Nat's make a mockery of democracy when they openly support independence for any country that wants it but not scotland.Dont you think the unionists have their interests first and Scotland's last?One last point!The unionist lib/lab pact conspired to loose power last may by telling the Scottish people that Scotland is a basket case and we cant do this and we cant do that and we will all be paying £5000 extra tax bill with an snp government.What a pack of lies from a pack of liar's,and self confessed law breakers.And you wish the snp would stop talking about independence!ASTONISHING!Soon enough it will be the Scottish people that will be going on about independence when the unionist liar's try to deny us our democratic right!Bye the way when the snp win in 2011 with a clear majority the unionists wont be asking for a referendum on anything WILL THEY?

• 104. Paddy - Luxembourg

  Tuesday, March 4, 2008 11:40

  Alan #99 says: 'I would like to know how Scotland would be independent if it became a full member of the European Union'.
  
  The answer to that is quite easy, Alan. Scotland would be just as independent as Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Belgium, Sweden ... or, for that matter, as France, Germany, Italy or Spain currently are. And it would be represented at the top table in any EU Council of Ministers meetings - not an insignificant improvement on its present (totally powerless) position!

• 105. terry - dundee

  Tuesday, March 4, 2008 16:42

  hi david in los angeles im sorry to hear that you cannot have a vote in the scottish elections having spent such a long time living here.It may be that other people with a british passport living outside scotland might also want to vote in the scottish elections, some of them may have only lived in scotland for a few years when they were a child and 50 years on more elsewhere , in their circumstances im not so sure it would be fair to allow them to vote.Perhaps it gets complicated trying to decide who can vote and who cannot vote when we decide to consider everyone with a british passport.I suppose there are many people who hold a british passport and consider themselves to be scottish because their parents are scottish who have not lived in scotland for a very long time and will probably never live here again.Perhaps when scotland becomes independant you can apply for a scottish passport and will then be able to vote on scottish matters.i hope so anyway.by the way hows the weather over there ? its dreich here..bye

• 106. Scott01 - Ayr

  Tuesday, March 4, 2008 20:20

  Steve 104 - I fully support your stance regarding the Unionist parties’ inability to provide a reasonable and truthful rationale for refusing to support a referendum. Like many, I am of the opinion that they merely fear what the answer may be.
  
  However, is the alternative of carrying on with the status quo not more damaging to Scotland in the long-term? As more of us develop a growing sense of injustice that we could be so much more as a country than we are at present, does this not represent a problem which could lead to growing discord between the four nations of the United Kingdom in the future?
  
  As more and more decisions are taken by Westminster which are at odds with the viewpoint of many, not just in Scotland but the rest of the UK too, whether that be no referendum on the EU Treaty, renewal of Trident, building more nuclear power stations, the Iraq war, or dodgy expenses, we have to ask ourselves, is anyone listening in London?
  
  Does the actions of Gordon Brown’s Government not pose more of a risk to the stability of the United Kingdom than an independence referendum ever could? As I have argued before in these pages, I wish for a successful United Kingdom, comprising of four independent self-governing countries, co-operating when it benefits us all, or challenging each other when our viewpoints do not agree.
  
  The current system of a one size fits all philosophy is clearly not ‘fit for purpose’ in the 21st Century.
  
  In relation to the viewpoints of Alan 99, I do not believe that the majority of Scotland voted against independence. I will put my hands up, I did not vote for the SNP last May, despite my obvious preference for an independent Scotland. My reasons for this, I voted for another party, mainly as my local MSP has done a lot of good work in the area, including tirelessly campaigning against the closure of our local A&E. I also happened to support the position that the said local MSP took in relation to law and order and drug rehabilitation. As many of you may guess from my previous entries, it was not Labour!!!! How many others are like me, preferring to vote on local issues and thus vote for a hard-working locally focused MSP who they trust even though the voter prefers independence but the MSP does not?
  
  Only a referendum will answer this!
  
  I must admit, I have been very impressed with the policies that the SNP have implemented since coming to power, including saving my local A&E, thank you Nicola Sturgeon! I also have to state that like many, I feel more proud to be a Scot than I was a year ago, our country is changing for the better, there is a positive optimism about the future, and I believe that is largely down to the changing of the guard at Holyrood. I have to admit I have enjoyed the ruffling of Gordon Brown’s feathers!
  
  Perhaps this has been part of the gradualist strategy of the SNP, firstly to prove their worth as an effective Government, which to me they have.
  
  Will they get my vote next time round? Probably. Will we get our referendum and our freedom? Go on Wendy, Annabelle and Nicol, just say yes!
  
  
  

• 107. Sandy McKay - Eastriggs D&G, working in Cumbria

  Wednesday, March 5, 2008 12:53

  How can independence (from the UK union)be real, when AS wants an 'independent Scotland' to be part of the EU?
  Just how much of Scotland's oil revenue will be 'common', just like the fishing!
  If you want an independent nation, be real, do not do it by parts.
  Unless FULL independence from the EU is proposed, I prefer the UK union.

• 108. Ian Innes - Elgin

  Wednesday, March 5, 2008 13:25

  Between 1931 and 2005 the population
  of Scotland increased by 3.25%
  
  Between 1961 and 2005 the population
  of Scotland fell by 3.57%.
  
  Average earnings for the year 2006
  was £16,840.
  
  Compare the above with the
  Republic of Ireland where:
  
  Between 1926 and 2006 the population
  increased by 42.6%.
  
  Between 1961 and 2006 the population
  increased by 49.6%.
  
  Average earnings for the year 2006
  was £21,800.
  
  30% higher than for Scotland.
  
  Young Scottish parents with young
  families, in particular, should find
  the statistics for Scotland very
  depressing; given that their hopes
  for a rising standard of living and an
  improving quality of life for
  themselves and their children
  depends on a dynamic economy with
  the potential to grow, well into the
  future.
  
  However, it is clear from the
  foregoing that under
  Westminster's tutelage Scotland's
  economy has underperformed that of
  Ireland's.
  
  Many might suggest this an
  understatement. Stagnated would be
  more appropriate.
  
  How else can one explain the drop in
  the population of Scotland
  between 1961 and 2005.
  
  see also #406 and 405 (An
  Independent Scotland).

• 109. tommy scouller - isle of scalpay

  Wednesday, March 5, 2008 15:08

  chris of edinburgh wote it's all just anti english bigitory can't he think for himself instead of spouting that old unionist rubbish

• 110. Tommy Davidson - West Lothian, Scotland, UK

  Wednesday, March 5, 2008 21:01

  The Tartan Tory SNP/Jacobites are anti English, Anti British and will demonise anything to do with the Union; we have all seen the evidence over the past few months.
  
  The SNP like any party are given a budget from Westminster. The SNP made promises to get elected, they were told their sums did not add up by Labour and this will become more evident when they don’t fully deliver all their election promises.
  
  We will continue to see this party fail and they will continue to blame Westminster for there own failings.
  
  They are not a responsible party who can deliver for all of Scotland’s people. They divide people and more than half of Scotland is already sick to the back teeth of them.
  
  The Scottish Parliament should be looking at Education where all of Scotlands children do not get taught about their history because it does not support the SNP agenda to smash the Union.
  
  Scotland is diverse however 300 years ago Scotland was a Protestant country.
  
  In many ways Scotland’s history/heritage is very close with our sisters and brothers in Northern Ireland. Ireland spends millions recognising the Battle of the Boyne in the Republic of Ireland, where here in Scotland’s our MSP’s positively discriminate against the Unionists of this great Nation.
  
  Faith schools further divide our children and the Tartan Tory SNP now plan to open up Muslim schools. Maybe we should give protestant’s the same equal rights and let them learn about the Reformation/ John Knox/Covenanters/ Act of Union etc.
  
  The SNP Tartan Tory doesn’t want this because it would help safe guard the Union. Keep them ignorant about their historical identity will help Salmonds Independence fairy tale.
  
  Does this sound like a fair & equal Scotland under a Tartan Tory SNP Government or is it more like a whitewash of a child’s identity.
  
  We should learn about our own country before we begin to learn about any others, shame on you Mr Salmond!
  
  The SNP are wolves dressed as lambs and we can all see through them for what they are !
  

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