Analyze the reasons for separatism with and/or across national boundaries and discuss its consequences [40 marks]
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender partition from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy. There are four main types of separatist groups – religious, ethnic, racial and gender. Separatism “with national boundaries” refers to an event concerning only one country. Separatism “across national boundaries” refers to an event concerning more than one country.
The general motivations for separatism are: emotional resentment of rival communities; protection from ethnic …show more content…

They believe that if these countries became independent and were able to survive as single countries, so can Scotland.
However there will be negative consequences of Scottish independence. Firstly, Scotland will no longer receive tax support which they currently get from the UK (in 2009-10 Scottish government received £16.5bn from Westminster in taxes to be spend on anything they want). Therefore if they broke off from the UK they would not get this money and they would have to make up for it themselves, which is bound to be hard, because they main financial resource is oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource which is predicted to run out in the next 50 years, furthermore it has been accounted that earning from oil industry in Scotland will only be able to replace the amount central UK government gives to Scotland at the moment. What’s more Scotland’s individual GDP of £150 billion would be smaller than that of Greece – even including North Sea oil. Secondly, Scotland has a higher unemployment rate than in England, therefore with gaining independence this factor will be felt more on the population. Government will have to spend big amounts on unemployment benefits, thus running into a budget deficit and consequently slowing economic growth down. This could lead to the worsening of road conditions, healthcare and education, simply as a result of opportunity cost to the government of having to paying unemployment benefits. Thirdly, Scottish