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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• 51. Scott01 - Ayr

  Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:27

  On the day that Kosovo is to declare independence from Serbia in a move backed by the US, EU and the UK government, this surely raises two big questions for all Scots. The first being the “What If?” and the second being “Why the contradiction?”.
  
  On the first, what if it were Scotland declaring independence? Would the scenes we are seeing on the news from Kosovo be repeated here, with flying Saltires and banners and people filled streets ready for the biggest party ever seen? Would England, Wales and Northern Ireland act as Serbia and Russia are doing now, by condemning the move?
  
  I think the answer would be yes and no. Would Scottish independence be worth celebrating - definitely, the chance to govern ourselves and have a Scottish voice on the international stage. The opportunity to carve our own foreign and domestic policies, whilst putting Scottish interests at the heart of trade discussions, would indeed be a reason to celebrate.
  
  We have a long and successful partnership with the other countries of the British Isles, I do not see them suddenly adopting Russia’s aggressive stance to stop us going our own way. The reason I believe this, is because I see Scottish independence as the start of a new journey, not only for Scotland but for the United Kingdom as a whole. I see Scottish independence about political autonomy, not cutting us off from our closest trading partners and our fellow Brits with whom we share such a long history.
  
  We would still be a member of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, unified as we all are under the Queen. However, I believe we should all be allowed the benefit of localised decision-making, whereby Scotland is governed from Edinburgh, Wales from Cardiff, England from London and so on. There is no reason that we cannot have a UK council comprising the top Cabinet members from each of the four nations to discuss any problems or opportunities that can be better met with shared effort and co-operation. Centuries of shared history will inevitably mean that there is much agreement on many issues which would affect the four home nations both domestically and internationally. However where disagreements do occur, then at least we would have the opportunity to have our voices heard by our own Government, not the distant Westminster.
  
  This leads me on to question the contradiction in the UK’s stance towards supporting an independent Kosovo. Although we cannot compare ourselves to the people of the Balkans, ravaged by years of in-fighting and war. We could argue that the Albanian majority in Kosovo, so used to being governed by Serbs in Belgrade, is similar, however distantly, from the five million of us Scots, for years governed by our much bigger counterparts.
  
  I believe independence would not only benefit Scotland, but the rest of the UK as well. For instance, in England during the 2005 General Election, 35.7% of those who voted, did so for the Conservatives as opposed to 35.5% for Labour. However due to Labour’s MP’s in Scotland and Wales, they won the election and so England got a Labour Government instead of a Conservative Government. The same can be said during the last Conservative Government, where very few MP’s for that party were elected in Scotland, culminating in their 1997 wipe-out north of the border.
  
  I, like many others will watch the outcome of Kosovo’s independence declaration and their journey towards their goals, with both anticipation and also a tinge of jealousy, that they are experiencing something which, for the moment, we in Scotland can only dream. I say this as someone, who initially sceptical of the Scottish Government’s abilities, has been really impressed by the SNP’s early months, may they continue to be successful in promoting Scottish interests first, and maybe, just some day, we will get the same chance to determine our own country’s destiny as the Kosovan’s are doing today.
  

• 52. Tommy Davidson - West Lothian

  Sunday, February 17, 2008 20:13

  Independence - NO THANKS
  
  With 70% of our people happy with what we have it's not going to happen, unless the TARTAN TORIE/SNP do it regardless.
  
  Many fought and died in world wars long after Wallace and Bruce.
  
  In a developed and diverse Scotland we can all live peacefully within United Kindom.
  
  Divisions cause illness within Society, have we not learned anything from across the Irish Sea?
  
  The Tartan Torie/SNP cannot be trusted in power, they have their own agenda and do not talk for the majority of Scotland's people.
  
  God bless all Scots who are proud to be British subjects also, the SNP are a cancer in politics and within society in general.

• 53. Chris - Edinburgh

  Monday, February 18, 2008 10:59

  Kev 42 - Regarding interest rates, Scotland still has more of a say in the Bank of England's decision than it would in the European Central Bank's decision.
  
  As for saying that English people earn more than Scots, whilst this is (sadly) true, I would say that is a good argument for keeping the Union. Those English people pay more taxes which goes towards helping our economy.
  Where do you think the current Scottish government gets the money to freeze prescription charges/council taxes and scrap bridge tolls? From Westminster, that's the answer!
  
  Some people on this board have been comparing Scotland to Kosovo and Ireland. I would say this is a false comparison for one very good reason:
  - Both Ireland and Kosovo have/had a very good reason to be independent as they faced persecution and discrimination in their own countries. We can hardly claim the same in Scotland.
  
  Finally, the point about Scotland having its own voice. Yes, we would have our own voice, but no one would care! Can you tell me who the leader of Belgium is? Do you know who the Dutch leader is? As part of Britain we have a chance to influence world affairs. Yes, we have not always made the right decisions in the past, but I truly think that as part of Britain we can be a good influence in the world and help countries like Afghanistan get themselves out of the mess they are in. As an independent country we would not have the resources to be able to do that.
  

• 54. Susan - Edinburgh

  Monday, February 18, 2008 15:55

  Chris 54, why does the fact that we don't know who the leader of Belgium or Holland is, matter? People in these countries are probably happy and doing just fine. Why do we have to think of ourselves as world leaders? If the leaders of Britain stopped thinking they still have an empire and sorted out the state of affairs in this country then we might all be happier. As far as being 'a good influence in the world', that is a very debateable point, it can be argued that we just make things worse in many of the countries we try to help. I personally would rather live in a country with a good standard of living and without an over-inflated idea of itself. Scotland has the potential, we just need to give it a go.

• 55. Kosovo like Scotland? - Fife

  Monday, February 18, 2008 16:03

  #52 Scott01
  
  As I recollect the story of Kosovo did Serbia not send in its troops to rape , pillage and basically murder the people of that province of the old Yugoslavia? Hardly the same relationship that we have with the other countries of the UK.
  
  Come to think of it the leader of the minority administration in the parliament in Holyrood, who's raison d'aitre is to split from the Union, would welcome the 'district' of Berwick into the Scottish 'mainland'. What next, the West Riding of Yorkshire? The Lake District? The South Riding/ How about York, settled by our Viking 'forefathers'? With a bit of subtle negotiation we could take over the whole of England and Wales and rule it from Edinburgh. We'll call it Salmonella, well the whole topic is a bit sick, like comparing the butchery that occurred in Kosovo to the political connections in the UK!!
  
  We do, for the moment, have much better policies for looking after our aging population, don't we? Only 3 and a bit years to go!!

• 56. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Monday, February 18, 2008 16:46

  I've got to thank the most recent bunch of posters on this forum (e.g. 47, 48, 49, 50 and 52) and other fora.
  
  Even though I've been in favour of independence for decades, some of the extreme, distorted and downright nasty political party (SNP) type postings "on my side", left me fair puggled as to whether I really cared about independence any more. The thought of swapping one set of party wrangling and blame-mongering for another, albeit closer to home, left me cold and dispirited.
  
  The positive and passionate note of these recent postings have made me once more enthusiastic and looking forward to independence in my lifetime.
  
  Thanks!

• 57. Bob Bertram - Midlothian

  Monday, February 18, 2008 18:36

  Although supporting more involvement in Europe etc. this can be done within Devolution and not via Independance. I cannot support a move toward independance if it focuses on, and encourages narrow nationalist views.

• 58. Steve - Glasgow

  Tuesday, February 19, 2008 02:06

  tommy 53
  Sorry tommy just cant go along with your logic on this. First things first,you say 70% of people are happy with what they have, how can that ever be tested without a democratic referendum ?Why would any unionist party if your 70% claim was correct not be demanding a referendum?As for the many brave scots who fought post wallace & bruce would you not agree that these brave souls fought for freedom and democracy something that the unionist trio from westmonster do not want to give to the scottish people.And all the while supporting independence for every other country that wants it.Does that not make you think at all?Also you say that you do not trust the snp in power, is it safe to assume then that you would trust a party thats leader has admitted to the breaking of the law! and to make matters worse to be let off by their own self appointed star chamber!OPEN YER EYES MAN! GOD BLESS ALL THOSE SCOTS WHO VOTED WITH EYES OPEN LAST MAY!tommy stop fumbling in the dark and come into the light man.

• 59. Chris - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:50

  Susan - My point is that as a country of 5 million we would not be able to have much say in Europe or the world. The SNP have been arguing for years (for example) that Scotland would get better fishing rights under an independent government. I don't think so. All the decisions in Europe are made by the major players - France, Germany, Italy who all have at least 50 million people. We are in a far better negotiating position as part of Britain in Europe.
  
  As for Britain's influence in the world, I agree that we have made mistakes in the past, but we have also had a good influence. For example, we played a major role in helping Kosovo when it was being plundered by the Serb army in 1999, and we had a big part to play in ending Sierra Leone's civil war in 2000.
  
  Far too many countries in Europe are happy to rely on the Americans for security and don't mind abandoning countries like Afghanistan to their own fate. I think that rather than retreating into an isolationist cell in Scotland, we can as part of Britain still help some of the problems in the world.

• 60. Tom - South Lanarkshire

  Tuesday, February 19, 2008 21:38

  Ref: 34. Mike - Aberdeenshire
  
  I’m working my way through the posts, to my mind most are propaganda (in it’s meaning of distorted information, not, in supporting policy). Mike’s post at No. 34 is the first one I can relate to.
  
  I feel those sitting in the Edinburgh parliament (all parties), are no more than a Scottish council, and only have that level of competence in trying to managing a nation!
  
  I fear it will take at least a generation and some significant and costly errors (on top of the new parliament building) before we have the calibre of people entering Scottish politics who have the abilities as well as the aspirations todeliver the wants and needs of the people.
  
  We should all be challenging the current crop on their policies and their actions, especially the party we personally support as they are all failing in our name.
  

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