England is not a REAL country.
>> Saturday, April 11, 2009
I just want to highlight something that myself as a Scot and a Brit always seem to come across.
This is aimed at those people out there, usually Americans, Australians and even Kiwis, who seem to think that either the UK is called 'England' or that Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland all come under one name 'England'.
England is not a REAL country.
In this sense, a real country, means a Sovereign Nation with 100% powers over all its own affairs.
In the UK we still use the name 'country' or 'nations' for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, but they are not "REAL" countries.
An example of where this might be mis-used is when someone tells me they visited England and I ask if they also visited Scotland, often the answer is something like this.
"oh, yes I went all over England".
but did you go to Scotland
"I just told you, I toured all over England"
sigh....
The List below deals with England in particular but is relevant to all 4 nations within the UK
- There is no such thing as an English Government.
- There is no such thing as the Prime Minister of England
- There is no such thing as an English Passport
- There is no currency called English Pounds.
- There is no such thing as an Embassy or High Commission of England
- There is no English Army
- There is no English Navy
- There is no English Air Force
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- England? nope.
Welcome to the UK.
4 comments:
They are real countries. They existed before the Union and they'll exist after. They are each separate entities. They simply chose to pool their sovereignty, much like the EU. They can leave the Union of their free will anytime they should choose to.
They have individual flags, anthems, saints, legal systems and established churches (some of them).
The Union did not abolish the existence of each individual state.
But you're right, it's the UK. Not England
hey Chris,
thansk for the comment, although I do not agree. The EU is made up of sovereign nations and can leave anytime they wish but the same cannot be said for England, Wales Scotland or NI. They cannot leave if they want to, there would have to be referendums and perhaps even blood since the UK itself holds all executive powers over sovereignty.
yes they have individual legal systems and churches etc but then so does many States in the US, but this doesnt mean that Ohio or texas could simply cecede from their Union.
The Union did not abolish the existence of each state I agree, but thats all they are "states" .... calling them countries doesnt make sense in an international definition, it only causes confusion among the world andeven our own citizens,
Cheers
Murray
I should say, once again, that I agree with your basic point - the UK and England are not the same thing.
Maybe we have different conceptions of what the Union actually represents.
For me, the Union is more like a contract than an actual merging of nations.
I don't think it would take bloodshed to leave the Union. I would not foresee an American Civil War or Tan War scenario. The days when we fought to keep an imperialist stranglehold over other countries are gone. I hope.
In fact, I think the UK will completely disband in my lifetime. Probably starting with independence for Scotland in the next decade.
I think your referendum argument is a little moot. In a democratic country I would expect a question as important as succession to be decided by referendum. It doesn't remove the ability of a country to succeed, it only makes it more democratic and legitimate.
Definitely an interesting debate though!
Chris
Hi Chris,
Yes Definitely a good debate, one I have been having with friends, family and strangers for years! :-)
I actually dont think that Scotland will leave the UK as easily as you think, as always the vocal minority has the loudest voice, but you would be surprised how many people in Scotland actually are quietly ok with the Union as long as there can be devolved powers in it.
An English Parliament would be a good Move i think, even though they would be by far the largest of the UK given the massive population, but I think it would bring more of a fair balance, thereby ensuring the union continue for a while to come.
You are probably right though, in this day and age, our modern Western nation would not (hopefully) need to spill blood for any memeber to cecede.
But I do think the UK is a merging of nations. In 1707 England and and Scotland surrendered their status as sovereign nations and essentially ceased to exist as independent political powers.
Wales of course having already come under the English banner many years before...but thats a different argument :-)
What I find interesting is that a small country such as New Zealand even though a former colony, actuAlly has more power than England or Scotland. They are represented at the UN, control their own borders and deal with their own foreign affairs. England cannot. Only the UK can.
This to me confirms that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only exist as countries in names only. They are acutally states or povinces of the Greater United Kingdom.
all the best
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