The British Union Lives

Well that was close.

I was worried Scotland would vote to secede. Besides further weakening the once great empire and perhaps inspiring other democratic secessionist movements, I think it could have weakened democracy. Russia and China, the world's big anti-democracies, would see UK's loss of Scotland as an example of the folly of giving power to the people.

So what happens now? Does the promise of greater power to the Scottish parliament mean England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will receive greater powers? (This is what the commentators are yapping about.) I think the UK has shown that its democratic government, even its monarchy, can adopt to changing circumstances. This is a government that peacefully let go of almost all of its overseas territories. The UK held no general elections during World War Two, resulting in ten years without a vote--only to return seamlessly to robust democracy in 1945.

I'm moved by David Cameron's post-election remarks. He notes that the UK did not try to avoid or delay a decision on Scotland. But man, it was a big risk. Perhaps a risk that pays off. Because the UK actually gave Scotland a chance to vote itself out, it shows that the UK respects the will of Scotland, even if it conflicts with the UK's interests.

More On Scotland

Forget Scotland. How about Canada and Australia rejoin the British Empire? Those two countries are deeply aligned with Britain through their culture and history and already retain the British monarch as their own. Sure, in 2014 the union can be a lose federation, but still a great union.

With America's reign as sole superpower coming to a close with China's economic boom, Russia's bold expansionism, and the pooled strength of the European Union, let a restored British Empire emerge as another superpower.

Let the renewed British Empire be a moral one. Yes, the British Empire wasn't a global saint as a colonial power. But long after letting go of British rule, many of the world's great liberal democracies are former British colonies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States). I don't think democracy would have occurred to India sans British meddling.

The former colonies of Spain and Portugal are dictatorship prone. Brazil is finally becoming a robust democracy, and I love that. But the country had eased into dictatorship in the 1960s with little public opposition. Heck, Spain and Portugal were themselves military dictatorships into the 1970s.

My country shook free of British rule quite early. But I think being a subject of the Queen is worthy of pride.

Wow Scotland

It bothers me that Scotland may vote to leave the UK.

I'm an American. My country fought its first war to split from the British Empire and its bloodiest war to remain intact. And we are obviously a democracy, but more specifically a constitutional and representative democracy. Ultimately the people have full power, but through a hard-to-amend constitution and elected representatives.

The UK has practical limits on democracy too. Its monarchy has become a purely ceremonial institution, but if democracy goes haywire, the Queen can steady the ship, as in the case of Juan Carlos in Spain.

It surprises me that Scotland is allowed the opportunity to break its union the the rest of the UK through a direct referendum. We wouldn't let Texas (once the Republic of Texas, and once part of Mexico) hold a vote on whether to leave the United States.

The British Empire has let go of territories all over the world in the name of national sovereignty. But isn't Scotland at the heart of the UK? Will Northern Ireland and Wales follow?