Scottish independence

The thought has occurred to me that if Scotland were to achieve independence then such a model involving the ROI and Scotland might be a good way to facilitate Irish reunification in subsequent years.

Unionists would surely be more likely to accept a reunified Ireland if it were to involve being in a union with Scotland. It would be a case of both nationalists and unionists gaining: the former gets an all-Ireland model, the latter gets to remain in a union with the UK nation it is closest to historically and geographically. It might even provide an avenue for Wales to survive on its own, should it decide it doesn't want to be part of the recent wave of English nationalist thinking.

It's all very much theoretical as it stands, however, and it remains to be seen whether Scotland - assuming it votes for independence - would welcome becoming involved right away in another union.

Well, on a technical issue, I don't see that it's viable unless the Isle of Man (a) become an independent sovereign country, and (b) joins the EU. At the moment it's neither an independent country nor in the EU.

But forget Man; what about Hiberno-Scottish regional co-operation, given an independent Scotland within the EU?

There's already, of course, a high degree of co-operation simply by virtue of being EU members. Within the EU, there are already examples of closer regional co-operation, some formally constitutuded, like Benelux, and some less formally, like the New Hanseatic League. I don't think the cultural affinities between Scotland and Ireland, like their shared Gaelic heritage, really provide a sound foundation for the kind of close regional co-operation and alignment that we see in Benelux, but they do have other things in common like their geographic location on the NW fringe of the Union, their status as small-to-mid-sized member states, and social and economic organisation heavily influenced by British traditions and institutions. But I think that, rather than have a two-state group, they are more likely to want to both join a larger group of states that share at least some of these characteristics. Like the New Hanseatic League, in fact (of which Ireland is already a member). These groups function largely to co-ordinate policy, and to seek to influence policy at an EU level, rather than to secure a deeper level of integration between the members than is provided simply by EU membership (which is what Benelux does).

Scotland is still very divided according to sectarian lines, similar to Northern Ireland. The sort of secterianism the republic has largely left behind is still alive and well in Scotland.
Uniionist supporting scots would have zero affinity with Ireland. All the Gaelic stuff would mean very little.

Ireland is already party of a northern European alliance within the EU. The name of it escapes me at the moment.

It doesn't get the same attention as the visegrad alliance since it's not led by a right wing awkward squad.

We’re doing great on our own within the EU and very connected to the wider world. Why on earth would we want to be getting involved with the Scots and all their love/hate baggage with England? I feel a very faint affinity with Scotland but certainly not part of a Union. They have decades and decades of growing up to do as a nation I think. Can’t even decide if they want to be a real country yet

road_high wrote: »

Intrigued to know what the “Benelux” cooperation is because apart from being good neighbors I’m not aware Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg share any formal political union (outside of EU membership) ?

They certainly do. Benelux isn't just a convenient shorthand for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; it's a formal political institution established by treaty, with its own Committee of Ministers, Council, General Secretariat, InterParliamentary Consultative Council and Court of Justice.

It predates the EU and in many respects was a forerunner to it - for example, the Benelux Countries were in a customs union with one another before the European Customs Union was established. A lot of what was first done by Benelux has since been superseded by the EU doing the same thing (like the customs union). But Benelux is always opening up new areas of co-operation with the result that the Benelux countries tend to be ahead of the rest of the EU in intergovernmental co-operation and social/administrative investigation. For example, they have just put in place arrangements allowing the Benelux police forces to conduct investigations in one another's jurisdictions.

What about poor auld Rockall?

Why should the people of Rockall be denied the indisputable benefits that a Celtic union would bring.

No, OP, sorry for being silly for a minute, Ireland should not seek to form some sort of Celtic Benelux.

You weren't a speech writer for Alex Salmond by any chance were you?

As leader of the SNP he spoke about an "arc of prosperity" encompassing Ireland, Iceland and Norway.
I think he forgot about Rockall too.

Why do people always forget about Rockall.