Financial Times (September 16)
“Fears of disruption following a Scottish vote for independence and intensifying conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have damaged prospects for the world economy,” according to the latest assessment of the OECD, which lowered growth forecasts for 2014 to 2.1% in the U.S., 0.9% in Japan and 0.8% in the eurozone.
Tags: Conflict, Disruption, Economy, eurozone, Independence, Japan, Middle East, OECD, Scotland, U.S., Ukraine, Vote
Los Angeles Times (September 11)
“The gravest immediate threat to the West’s long-term security does not emanate from Vladimir Putin or from the militants of the Islamic State. Rather, surprisingly, it comes from peace-loving Scots.” On September 18, we will see if Scotland will “actually break away from Britain.”
Tags: Britain, Immediate threat, Islamic State, Putin, Scotland, Security, West
The Economist (August 16)
It looks increasingly like Scotland will vote against independence from the UK in the September 18 referendum. “The ‘no’ to independence campaign has a comfortable poll lead,” but this may not be the end of the story. Quebec engaged in what’s become known as a “neverendum” involving “decades-long deliberations over breaking from Canada.” So even if the Scots vote no, there “looms the prospect of a ‘neverendum.’ If unsuccessful, ‘yes’ campaigners could import that decades-long limbo to Britain.”
Tags: Britain, Campaigners, Canada, Independence, Limbo, Neverendum, Quebec, Referendum, Scotland, UK, Vote
New York Times (February 13, 2014)
On September 18, Scotland will vote on whether to go independent or remain in Great Britain, which also includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland. “As the countdown begins for the fateful vote, the Scots should certainly weigh the potential economic consequences, but also the pros and cons of dropping out of ‘Team G.B.’”
Tags: Cons, Consequences, England, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Pros, Scotland, Scots, Vote, Wales
New York Times (March 28)
“Should Scotland be an independent country?” On September 18, 2014, Scottish voters will answer this question. “After more than three centuries of political union, breaking up would be complicated…. Looking at the financial woes of small, independent European states like Cyprus and Iceland, Scottish voters may want to think twice about going it alone.”
The Economist (April 14)
“If Scots really want independence for political or cultural reasons, they should go for it. National pride is impossible to price. But if they vote for independence they should do so in the knowledge that their country could end up as one of Europe’s vulnerable, marginal economies.”
“If Scots really want independence for political or cultural reasons, they should go for it. National pride is impossible to price. But if they vote for independence they should do so in the knowledge that their country could end up as one of Europe’s vulnerable, marginal economies.”
Tags: Independence, Scotland, UK
New York Times (February 27, 2012)
“Official London has panicked over the rising clamor of voices from all over the British Isles suddenly agreeing that the archaic structure of ‘Great Britain’ is overdue for a shake-up — even a breakup.” Scotland has provided the momentum. Will the Welsh follow? The once unthinkable is suddenly possible. “The oldest royal democracy in the world… could split apart.”
“Official London has panicked over the rising clamor of voices from all over the British Isles suddenly agreeing that the archaic structure of ‘Great Britain’ is overdue for a shake-up — even a breakup.” Scotland has provided the momentum. Will the Welsh follow? The once unthinkable is suddenly possible. “The oldest royal democracy in the world… could split apart.”
Tags: Democracy, Great Britain, London, Scotland, Wales
Wall Street Journal (February 25, 2012)
“What if the euro survives the present economic crisis but the European Union—or even the United Kingdom—doesn’t?” Britain’s famed historian Norman Davies believes there’s no reason to assume countries and institutions will endure. His recent book, Vanished Kingdoms, is enjoying widespread popularity and offers “a bracing tour of Europe’s cemetery of dead nation-states, fallen empires and collapsed duchies.” Davies believes both the UK and EU could unravel. The former will soon face a vote for independence by Scotland. The latter has yet to address the fundamental issues: “They forgot to answer important questions about EU governance—that little matter of whether Europe would need a more integrated political union before it could have a currency union, for instance.”
Tags: Economic crisis, EU, Norman Davies, Scotland, UK
