Thursday, Scotland voted on a referendum that decided whether they would remain a part of the U.K. or become an independent nation. Preliminary results Thursday evening suggested it would remain, but the official outcome was not available as of publication.
The referendum has roused interest and opinions around the globe, but some Hoosiers have a strong personal investment in the happenings across the pond.
“I’ve been wanting to write something about it, but I’m finding it very hard because it’s so close to home,” said Elaine Monaghan, professor of practice in the Media School.
The issue is the question of home for Monaghan, a Scottish native who left the country after she finished school in 1993.
“What passport will I have?” she pondered. “Will I have to choose whether I am British or Scottish? I’ve always thought of myself as both.”
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland currently comprise the UK.
Scotland has its own government, which is responsible for most domestic issues such as healthcare, education, justice and the environment for the country. However, as part of the U.K., Scotland is also subject to the rulings of the U.K. government, which covers immigration, the constitution, foreign policy and defense.
U.K.’s parliament is separate of U.K.’s government, but parliamentary decisions also affect Scotland. Parliament sets taxes, regulates government and officiates legislation.
Monaghan said she understands the reason for the referendum and noted she has always sensed suspicion among Scottish citizens about the political happenings in London.
Monaghan said her family and friends have varying opinions on the matter but said she would vote to not secede, citing the economic ?repercussions.
“My heart says ‘yes,’ but my head says ‘no’,” she said.
Greg Swan, an IU student originally from Glasgow, Scotland, said he, too, does not believe Scottish independence is ideal.
“If we leave the UK, it will be terrible for Scotland’s economy,” he said. “We will need a new currency, new healthcare and everything.”
Like Monaghan, Swan said he understands why some Scots are pushing for ?independence and added that it would be a boon for Scottish national pride.
Political science professor William Winecoff said Swan is correct that Scottish independence will have major political and economic implications.
“Ownership of the North Sea oil is contentious, and the large Scottish banks have said they will move to London, in part because the British government is the majority owner of the Royal Bank of Scotland and minority owner of Lloyd’s,” he said.
Winecoff added that admission into the European Union is not guaranteed to an independent Scotland.
“Other countries, such as Spain, might veto Scottish entrance so as to dissuade Separatists within their countries seeking independence,” he said.
Winecoff noted the U.K. government has promised significant regional autonomy to Scotland, particularly with regard to tax and transfer ?policies.
“Accepting the U.K.’s offer of autonomy while staying in the union might be the best course of action for Scotland,” Winecoff said.
Lewis Shaw, an IU student from Manchester, England, said he hopes Scotland does not secede.
He compared Scottish independence to a divorce and said that it would not improve relations between the two countries. Still, Shaw said he believes the decision is ?Scotland’s to make.
“End of the day, it is their country,” he said.
Another Hoosier with personal interest in the referendum is informatics professor Simon Dedeo, who is American but was raised in Britain as his parents worked overseas.
“Friends of mine in London and Edinburgh are ?divided,” he said.
Dedeo has spent the past few weeks predicting the results of the vote through a statistical bootstrap based on the data from six independent polls. He said the bootstrap is a quick way to gather data and write simulations.
Dedeo said Wednesday evening his prediction is the union will be preserved and noted that his findings are in contrast to what both campaigns and most media outlets say.
“The data suggest that the chance of the Scottish deciding to secede is less than one in a thousand,” he said. “But, it is in the interests of neither (campaign) to decrease the drama right now.”
For Monaghan, though, the issue remains.
“In today’s world, we should be erasing borders, not rebuilding them,” she said.
