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Small is beautiful 88

Posted on May 04, 2013 by

Are we doomed to decline if Scotland separates? I can think of lots of good reasons why Scotland might want to vote to remain part of the United Kingdom. But the Commons’ Foreign Affairs Select Committee report this week is not one of them.

smallcountry

According to the report, if Scotland votes for independence, it would mean the UK was “a world power in irreversible decline”. Setting aside the question of whether we should expect folk to vote in the interests of geopolitical greatness, does being small mean you’re doomed to be weak? Not at all. The assumption that in geopolitics strength comes from scale is simply not true.

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    • Alf Baird on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Why do you let the coloniser shape the thoughts in your heid” The colonized cannot prevent it, and that is…” Mar 10, 09:43
    • Aidan on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “The ironic thing Geri is in a medieval totalitarian dictatorship like Iran a gobshite like you would quickly find yourself…” Mar 10, 09:42
    • Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Good morning, James. Keep up the good work. If you weren’t right the colonysts wouldn’t be attacking you. And you…” Mar 10, 09:03
    • Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Good morning all you liberty seeking Scots out there in here… ready to give those Inglis(if they aren’t they should…” Mar 10, 08:50
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““keep repeating the conversation … until the penny drops in Scotland” I am quite unable to comprehend whether or not…” Mar 10, 08:39
    • James Che on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Scotland only had a treaty with the parliament of England in 1707, Not the successor State of the parliament of…” Mar 10, 08:29
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““a well run country” Because they are serious people and they elect serious people to run it. Generous supporters of…” Mar 10, 08:24
    • James Che on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Sven. Good morning to you, settling in fine thanks for asking, still delays in pension though, so I guess I…” Mar 10, 08:21
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““the first day they were bombed they came out onto the streets in their millions” Thocht it wis tens o…” Mar 10, 07:56
    • The Flying Iron of Doom on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Hatey McHateface says: 9 March, 2026 at 6:03 pm “Scotland will have expressed it’s will” Ah. I see the problem…” Mar 10, 07:52
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “I like it, Northy! A straight crib from the President Donald Trump playbook. Declare victory when the fecht’s hairdly ……” Mar 10, 07:49
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Gloves oan, clothes peg at the ready, YL. That cam oot her lower intestine, alang wi much o the rest…” Mar 10, 07:40
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri says: “Why on earth would an independence supporter support colonialism?” An excellent question, best answered by the pootfans whose…” Mar 10, 07:36
    • Young Lochinvar on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri “Japan had already surrendered when they dropped those bombs”.. That’s genuinely news to me, what’s the source of that…” Mar 10, 03:35
    • Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Oh aye, forgot to mention, the first day they were bombed they came out onto the streets in their millions.…” Mar 10, 00:56
    • Cynicus on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri says: 9 March, 2026 at 10:12 pm “After a good rodgering with each other it’s ontae the bus to…” Mar 10, 00:47
    • Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “I’m afraid the colonialists who insist on posting here long after they have lost the day to the wit and…” Mar 9, 23:57
    • Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Stop voting for these people. They have no mandate. Another good example of why that place should be closed. Idle…” Mar 9, 23:45
    • Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Calm yersel, shitface. You’ll do yersel an injury. Are you sure it wisnae ten million they gunned down? Whit about…” Mar 9, 23:34
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Stop, sarah! First consider how you could use this to eliminate people who disagree with you. Take your time, at…” Mar 9, 22:58
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Which really does help explain the Scots ‘No’ vote(r)” Great. Did anybody ask for that explanation? But why don’t you…” Mar 9, 22:52
    • sarah on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “O/T: Assisted Dying Bill vote in Holyrood tomorrow. The dangers of this Bill are obvious – just look at what…” Mar 9, 22:48
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Oh FFS, Geri. Get some help. Please. Their constitution just permitted between 20,000 and 30,000 of their citizens to be…” Mar 9, 22:42
    • Mark Beggan on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “It is very disturbing to see some of the comments on here supporting the evil regime of inbred gangsters. What…” Mar 9, 22:39
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Well done, everyone” Is that the same people you were telling to get tae fuck yesterday?” Mar 9, 22:34
    • Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “What’s your beef with batshit? Compared to some I could mention, batshit is the very epitome of calm rationalism.” Mar 9, 22:30
    • sarah on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Wit and humour win the day, Northcode! 🙂” Mar 9, 22:27
    • Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Cause it’s all about the “networking” After a good rodgering with each other it’s ontae the bus to go crack…” Mar 9, 22:12
    • Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Iran has a constitution. Something you eejits never do understand, must be cause you don’t have one of your own.…” Mar 9, 21:51

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