As Scotland voted on whether it wanted independence or not, there were regions all over the world that took a close interest in what was going on. It is particularly impressive that this fundamental national debate has happened in such a democratic and peaceful manner. Seeking to split nation states is often a very brutal and bloodthirsty affair, as the people of Biafra and Bangladesh can bear witness. The Scottish experience is being looked at with great interest by Catalonia, although Spain rejects any notions of the region’s independence. Some of the rich burghers of Munich would be delighted if they could stop paying for the rest of the German nation and find a new, wealthy Bavarian independence.
All nation states are a collection of regions with different experiences. At some stage in the past they were absorbed into what became the modern nation state, often by military action and sometimes by treaty, but very rarely with the peoples’ consent. The question is whether these historic memories add up to a desire to form a new and independent state. Such determination is rare. The historic kingdom of Northumberland was by far the dominant force in Britain in the Dark Ages, but there is no suggestion that Newcastle should become the capital of a new country stretching from Edinburgh to the Midlands.
A key to triggering a demand for independence is if the region identifies with the nation state. To win such loyalty requires the central government to pay attention to regional concerns. This did not happen under Saddam Hussain in Iraq and the Kurds have largely gone their own way. It did not happen in Ukraine where the Russian speaking easterners have been alienated by the Ukrainian nationalists in the west of the country, and were then exploited by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This is why all national governments need to address their consciences and ask if they have been nurturing their people, not just in the over-crowded and massive capital, but also in the rural and remote areas. If they have made that effort, then their nation state has a much better chance of survival.
