Professors Discuss Results of the Scottish Referendum
A panel of Boston University professors from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) gathered to discuss the implications of the referendum on possible Scotland independence held this Friday (September 19). After a very close run-up and a close count, the voters favored ‘No’ on the question of Scottish independence and Scottland will remain part of the United Kingdom. However, the panel of BU professors felt that although the vote has not changed the map of the United Kingdom for now, it will invariably reshape the politics of Britain, and beyond.
Moderated by Professor Graham Wilson, Chair of the Department of Political Science, the panel also included Prof. James A. Winn, Warren Distinguished Professor of English and Director of the Center for the Humanities, and Prof. Erik Goldstein, Professor of History and of International Relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies and former Chair of the Department of International Relations.
The very distinguished panel agreed that although the Scottish referendum did not result in the death of Britain, but it came very close to being a near death experience. That Westminster may have won the vote, but it now needs to think very carefully about why it came so close to not doing so. The panelists were also of the view that the outcome has huge implications for other countries with separatist movements, such as Spain, and for the European Union and for United States foreign policy. These implications were discussed amongst the panlists and in the Q&A session with the audience. The one thing everyone seemed to agree on was that we will be hearing much more about this referendum in the months and years to come. And not just in Scotland.
Held on Monday, September 22, 2014, the panel was co-organized by the Center for the Study of Europe, the Department of English and the Department of Political Science and was held at new premises of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies.