Scotland is a country within the multinational state of the United Kingdom. Following centuries as an independent nation, in 1707 the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of political union with England.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official title of the state. Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are often called the Home Nations. All of them can be described as countries, or nations, as can the UK in its entirety. None of them are independent states, however.
Scotland does not meet six out of eight criteria needed to be called an independent country. Though Scotland has its own economy and institutions, it lacks control over key areas like trade and defense. Scotland is not sovereign and lacks external recognition as an independent state.
Under UN Resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV), and 1654 (XVI), Scotland meets the criteria for recognition as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, entitled to UN-supervised decolonization and independence. The UN Charter guarantees that no nation should be held in political subjugation against its democratic will.
However, Scotland is not part of mainland (or continental) Europe. Instead, it is on the landmass that is called Great Britain– comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales. Although not connected to mainland Europe, Scotland is still considered to be a European country.
War between the English and the Scots raged until 1314, when Robert the Bruce's army defeated Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn. A legend was born. Scottish independence was declared 6 years later with the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320.
An independent Scotland would have full autonomy over decisions on tax, spending and borrowing. Scotland would be able to issue sovereign debt and set fiscal limits. According to the Scottish Government, it is clear that Scotland currently pays its way within the UK.
And even if a territorial entity does declare itself to be an independent country, it is not always recognized as such by the rest of the world. The newest internationally recognized country in the world is the African country of South Sudan, which declared independence on July 9, 2011.
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom (although it is also described by official sources as a province or a region), situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland.
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjacent islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles.
The Scots Gaelic name for Scotland, Alba, derives from the same Celtic root as the name Albion, which properly designates the entire island of Great Britain but, by implication as used by foreigners, sometimes the country of England, Scotland's southern neighbour which covers the largest portion of the island of ...
In simple terms the facts are as follows: The United Kingdom (UK) is a sovereign country made up of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It has a central government based in London and a parliamentary system.
Does Scotland have its own passport? No. Scotland is part of the UK, so Scots have a UK passport. Scottish citizens would be entitled to hold a Scottish passport in the event of an independent Scotland.
What is the difference between a nation and a country?
Country: A defined piece of land with borders. Examples include Germany, Scotland and Australia. Internationally, there are some almost agreed principles to determine what is a country. Nation: A group of people that share a common identity.
The Island is a self-governing British Crown Dependency (as are Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands) with its own parliament, government and laws. The UK government, on behalf of the Crown, is ultimately responsible for its international relations.
The status of Scotland as a nation is established through history and reflected in current institutions. Scotland is a recognised political and territorial entity, with its own legal and education systems; and sporting, religious and cultural institutions.
flag of Scotland flag of a constituent unit of the United Kingdom, flown subordinate to the Union Jack, that consists of a blue field (background) bearing a white saltire (diagonal cross) that extends to the flag corners; this type of emblem is known as the Cross of St. Andrew (after the patron saint of Scotland).
What is Wales, exactly? Wales is a country that forms part of the island of Great Britain. There are three countries that make up this island: Wales, and our neighbours England and Scotland. Wales also forms part of the United Kingdom.
Automatic citizenship: you would be a Scottish citizen automatically if you are already a British citizen and live in Scotland, were born in Scotland, have a parent who was born in Scotland, or previously lived in Scotland for 10 years (or five years as a child).
Scotland is a country within the multinational state of the United Kingdom. Following centuries as an independent nation, in 1707 the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of political union with England.
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and more than 100 smaller adjacent islands.
When Northern Ireland was formed in 1920, it was decided, partly because of where Catholic and Protestant populations lived, to only include six of the nine counties of Ulster within the new state. Thus, the remaining three counties eventually formed part of the Irish Free State.
British citizenship is “full” citizenship. It is exactly the same category of nationality that natives of the Isle of Man and United Kingdom hold. This is a reflection of the very close links between the two countries.
