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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• 31. Ewan Mitchell - Stirling

  Wednesday, February 13, 2008 23:33

  My point is directly to Graeme in West Lothian in the first instance. I think your comments about 'burning Union Jacks' are a disgrace. For all the sacrifices made and are still being made by our British country men and women representing Britain your statement is an insult. The ironic thing is without the sacrifices of British people you wouldn’t be able to post such down right ridiculous blogs.
  
  As a proud Scottish and British man I believe we have the best of both worlds. Local say on issue such as health, education and crime that meet the specific needs of Scotland and on international policy matters, trade and defence for example the power and influence of Britain.
  
  I have always found it puzzling that the SNP have a minority coalition with the Green Party yet the SNP's main driver for independence is to pump every last gallon of oil out of the North Sea. Does this make sense to anyone else? I really do worry what the SNP’s blatant perusal of independence will do to Scotland. They are focussing way too much time and energy on one policy when all Scottish people want is for them to improve their lives.
  
  North Sea oil will not be there for ever and the EU subsidies that made Ireland wealthy are now focussed on the Eastern European nations. We are a great nation, but so are all the British home countries that form to make the greatest nation on planet earth. There is no other nation on Earth that could compete with our achievements in relation to their size, nowhere near it.
  
  I would like to leave you with one point why are we trying to give up 300 years of our history? The Union does not belong to England, nor Wales, nor Northern Ireland it belongs to us all. We have inputted 300 years of our people's work into it. It is ours as well why are some so keen to give up our history and our right to use it to help us and all Britain constituent countries for the next 300 years and more.
  

• 32. Nigel Thomas - Brighton

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 04:00

   

• 33. John McGowan - Oslo, Norway

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 05:28

  "Scotland looks to Ireland and the Nordic countries..."
  
  The closure of Norway´s Edinburgh consulate is a bucket of cold water on Scotland in that regard. It shows that a Scotland under the Union matters little to the countries we aspire to compare ourselves to.
  
  Scotland needs to demonstrate the courage of it´s convictions now; establish representative offices in those countries important to US- and rely less on the "charity" and goodwill of those countries in maintaining their missions to Edinburgh.

• 34. Mike - Aberdeenshire

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 09:55

  ‘Independence’ – One mans vision another mans EGO trip,.., Lets face it the current lot can’t manage to get me a NHS dentist, can’t get me enough bobbies on the beat, can’t properly fund nurses, can’t get teachers to come to my area the list is endless without mentioning fire service, prison service and the basic council services!! How do you propose they manage the country??
  
  And if I was honest none of them in the biggest carbuncle in Edinburgh could do the job. We should play to our strengths not to somebody else’s idea of what should be done.,.,
  
  In fact – get a grip!
  

• 35. Andy - Lochaber

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:56

• 36. george alexander - north lanarkshire

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:56

  To Mike - post #34
  
  Who are the current lot you refer to Mike, the Westminster Labour Government who have been in power for a decade or the new Scottish SNP Government who have been in power for less than A year?
  
  If you feel that NHS dentistry, police on the street, nurses pay, prisons and fire service are in a dreadfull state then who do you propose is to blame?
  
  Those who have got us there or those who have inherited the mess?
  
  Who was in charge of the 'carbuncle' Mike? I'll give you a clue, it wasn't the MSP's at Holyrood. All of the major decisions were taken by Unionists at Westminster.
  
  Your comment suggests that the Union is failing Scotland Mike, what is your remedy?
  
  I know what I prefer,I prefer to let Scots govern themselves. Oh, History cannot be removed whether it is 300 years or 1000 years.
  
  Feeling that we are better off united flies in the face of the evidence. Look around you at Scotland as we are today and ask yourself this:
  
  Are we creating a Scotland that future generations will be proud of or should we be doing better?
  
  Is this the best that we can do given the incredible wealth of natural resources that we have?
  
  Let's go for it !!!

• 37. Chris - Edinburgh

  Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:58

  Alexander Philip no 28 - Yes, as part of Britain we are in the EU. However, we do not have the euro, there is a big difference here. The Bank of England (which was founded by a Scotsman) sets interest rates for the UK. As a country of 5 million out of 60 million in the UK, we still have some influence over our finances (especially when the Prime Minister and the Chancellor are both Scots.)
  
  However, if we use the Euro as an independent country, we will be a country of 5 million out of 300 million. Economic policy in Brussels will be decided by all the big players in the EU - France, Germany, Italy so we will have no say in our own finances.
  
  As part of Britain we still have a major influence in world affairs - we are in the G8, we have a permanent seat at the UN security council, we are 5th biggest economy in the world. We would be foolish to throw it all away!

• 38. Patrick Kirkwood - Ayrshire

  Friday, February 15, 2008 09:55

  Even temporarily ignoring the purely economic reasons for independence, which are hugely important and will eventually bring about that shift, Scotland still should be independent. As mentioned by many above, Scottish-ness is an incredibly strong identity; whereas "British-ness", to the extent a definition can be agreed, is an optional add-on.
  The current devolved settlement recognises Scotland as a distinct polity. It is unhealthy for any country to allow itself to be governed wholly or in part by another. The social problems we see day-to-day around us are, to some extent, due to this disconnect between those with real power and the people. Scotland’s economic interests are repeatedly sacrificed to aid the wealthy south-east further, and Glasgow’s gang and knife cultures are dismissed as intractable whilst money is poured in to London’s east end in regeneration attempts (and for the Olympics). There is nothing particularly conspiratorial about this set-up; just money tends to stay in the broad areas which have power as opposed to far-off places within the union.
  We are currently governed by London on reserved matters and carefully watched on devolved matters. This system, whilst undoubtedly better than the centralised dictatorship of the majority that went before, still stops this country from moving forward. An independent Scotland could choose to do many things - including becoming a major player in conflict resolution (like Norway and Canada). It could opt to stimulate economic growth in a meaningful way; by cutting those taxes effecting business that really matter, not just those that happen to be devolved to it. The point is all these options and far more would be available to those we vote in, to make Scotland better; were Scotland independent.
  

• 39. Kev - Edinburgh

  Friday, February 15, 2008 11:39

  31.
  
  Ewan dont you find it Ironic and rather sad that it this so called great union of yours is currently causing the deaths of hundreds of troops and thousands of civilians? Try and move on Scotlands shame is focusing on its dark past.
  Question for you if this nation is so great, the greatest on the planet you say, then tell me why? give me one reason please.
  Also if we are so great, why is our largest city one of the most poverty,ill,crime ridden in the whole of Europe?
  
  As for world infleunce, you should perhaps listen to your own quote "all Scottish people want is for them to improve their lives" before wasting your energy defending a flag, but then perhaps that flag and what it represents is more important to you than the country you live in..
  
  
  

• 40. Mark - Rotterdam

  Friday, February 15, 2008 11:43

  I have spent much of my working life in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, and have seen first hand how small countries (or in the case of NL, mid-sized as far as population is concerned) can do very well economically. None of these countries possess anything like the natural resources that Scotland has, though all three do have a big emphasis on receiving a good education. All three are proud of their respective national identities and wouldn’t dream of merging with any of their larger neighbours (Germany, Italy, France), regardless of them having larger economies.
  
  My question to Scots unionist is why are you keen to belittle Scotland and put Scots down at every opportunity? Why are you so convinced that Scotland can’t survive without England? Other small countries can survive on the door-step of some the so-called economic giants of Europe, Scotland is capable of doing the same.
  

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