Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

The United Kingdom was created in order to form the basis for a strong state and to prevent other nations from causing mayhem with regards to England.  This nation, for good or worse, was a major power in the 18th and 19th centuries and it remained to play a very important role in the 20th century.  However, can it survive in the 21st century?

The key nation now in many ways is Scotland because this nation is very rich in natural resources and her political leaders have a more independent spirit.  Many now in Scotland desire to cut their ties and to move even closer to the European Union.  The Scottish government is also more socialist based and her polices provide better care within the United Kingdom.  Therefore, this nation would be a viable independent state because of both her political astuteness and her natural resources.

For Northern Ireland it is more complex because the Protestant community is pro-United Kingdom, however, many Catholics desire either a united Ireland or an independent state.  Also, the political situation could easily explode if the United Kingdom was threatened and a return to past violent ways is more than possible.  More important, the economy of Northern Ireland is a lot weaker because of past troubles and limited natural resources.   Therefore, this part of the United Kingdom is a lot more weaker and divided and any convulsions within the United Kingdom could cause problems for the people of Northern Ireland.

With regards to Wales, then her rich past and culture is once more developing and her different language is growing in many parts of Wales, notably in north Wales.  Therefore, you do often feel different in parts of north Wales and Welsh nationalists rightly point to nations like Ireland who have gained massively from the European Union via economic benefits.  Also many people in Wales often feel neglected and many believe than an independent Wales would create vitality and creativity.

The final puzzle in the jigsaw is England and often it appears to be unfair to the English people because they are losing power at the expense of other parts of the United Kingdom and it is mainly English taxes which is being spent on other parts of this combined nation state.  At the same time Scottish politicians can vote within the British parliament, however, English MPs have no power to infringe on Scotland.  This is causing resentment in parts of England and of course the last two leaders of the United Kingdom were both Scottish. 

Therefore, with the rise of the European Union and nationalism within the body politics of the United Kingdom, it would appear that this state is threatened.  For many people they welcome this, however, you have so many inter-connections that it would appear to be either pointless or not needed because this combined nation state does work.  Yet despite this it would appear that nationalism will challenge the United Kingdom and it is more than doubtful that this combined nation state will survive in the later part of the 21st century?

Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

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