Devolution, Britain between Unitarianism and Federalism

Abstract

Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a constitutional monarch, known for its prestige and pragmatism, an archipelago encompassing four countries: Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. Over centuries Kings and Queens were careful to keep this unity tight and stringent for showing its respect and admiration all over the world; however, with the emersion of the industrial revolution, life conditions on these islands were worse than in England, adding to that the First and the Second World Wars which by consequence exacerbated poverty, misery and crimes. Thus, it was axiomatic that people needed to strike and to claim what they were deprived from. In the twentieth century the economy of Great Britain decreased, in Northern Ireland misery increased and people died, in Wales and Scotland workers in the mines were overwhelmed from poor salaries they were paid… these sufferings were not, but a prelude to devolution. Hence, this thesis traces the movements and parties which were created to defend those people who started to think of disunion from England and beginning to revolt in masses mainly in Ireland for the religious schism. For Scotland, in the richest parts people endured and suffered too, the thing which triggered the sense of Nationalism that led by the way towards calling for full independence. The 2014’s referendum in Scotland headed by the SNP, resulted with a number of 46% for “yes”; these statistics were to be a threat for the union, as it will probably outrage a continuum of allegations for the independence by the other countries (Wales, Northern Ireland). Actually, all those events did turn upside down the politics of Great Britain, to make it living until nowadays in a thorny spiral. In this regard, this work will develop whether Scotland as a major economic component for the British union, will hold its integrity and economy, and whether will be there a United Kingdom without Scotland? Or whether is there a possibility that UK will become a federal state? These questions or problematic are strongly linked to the ‘British Constitution’, and to the Scottish independence.