Ties that bind
There is a lesson for the world in the predicament the UK currently finds itself in. Between Brexit and its handling of the novel coronavirus, it has unearthed old fault lines to exacerbate its present challenges. The ‘Leave’ faction may have hoped the UK would be able to chart an ‘independent’ destiny if freed from European ‘shackles’. But independence is contagious and as it settles its divorce from the EU, there is a real risk that the British union may itself unravel.
It was not long ago that Scotland held a much-heralded referendum to decide whether it should exist as an independent nation. Historically speaking, the UK has been a set of nations glued together, even if three of them share the same island. And while the internecine rivalry they were often engaged in may be a thing of the past, vestigial sentiments remain. Then again, the same can be said of most, if not all countries that exist today. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, the concept of the modern nation state is far less organic than it seems.
In the aforementioned referendum, Scotland voted in favour of remaining part of the UK, but only by a narrow margin. Given that it was held just six years ago, some may feel British PM Boris Johnson has a point in refusing calls for another one. But one would be amiss if they don’t consider the circumstances and how they have changed. In many ways, that referendum and the Brexit vote that took place two years after it reflect each other. That they returned such different outcomes is in itself enough to suggest that some Scottish people may now reconsider their earlier choice.
Although talk of a second referendum may still be premature, one can also not discount the domino effect it may have on Northern Ireland. Being part of EU was a significant factor in settling the ‘Troubles’ in the region. Whatever the outcome, this present challenge the UK faces is a crucial case study for all nations. Most, if not all, exist as a consequence of certain historical compromises. One unilateral action is all it takes to undo the ties that bind them.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2020.
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