I need help in this thread people in a subforum are arguing with me that Scotland is not a country and that the UK is the country and I am trying to explain the historical differences and pecularities of the UK. I could really use with some Scottish assistance.

Scotland is not a country (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=228235)

Thats not gona be easy, but i'll give it a go... People like Gweilo, Gleegie, Space_Invader would do a better job though....

On second thoughts, not S.I...... "Fuckin Mon then!..." :) :jk:

Il give it a go but I might end up :soapbox:

Im not even Scottish but they just can't seem to understand that the UK originally was 2 countries under 1 crown, hence United Kingdom

I suppose its not thier fault thier education system has failed them. They'll be telling us the Netherlands is just a collection of people and not a country next :|

you see what I mean, Ive been trying to explain this difference but no one wants to believe that we Brits might know a bit more about this.

Scotland is not a country (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=228235)
I can't believe what I'm seeing in that thread.

*rubs eyes*

its strange, its not often the english and scottish unite to do anything, I guess families do come together when under attack.

They're obviously all douchebags with nothing better to do with thier time

They're obviously all douchebags with nothing better to do with thier time

Agreed

Well, I've done ma bit.

Many thanks. I just got so mad with people thinking they know more about the complex set-up we have going here.

FUCKSAKE thats one of the most annoying things ever on the internet....

OK, here was my contribution...

OK Let's settle this...

Many here seem to be arguing over the definition of country. As the United Kingdom is not a federal system, what else do we call Scotland but a country?

Is Scotland a state? No
Is Scotland a province? No
Is Scotland a Kingdom? Yes, but part of a single realm.
Is Scotland a Country? Yes, for what else do we call it in this context, and with its historical status?

However, is Scotland a Nation State? No. It is not for the reasons already cited regarding citizenship, foreign policy, international treaties, and membership of international organisations.

Perhaps the term "constituent country" would be more appropriate and accurate.

Using our head of state as evidence however, only adds further complexity, and makes attempts at definition more intractable. Scotland shares a head of state with two other constituent countries, one principality, thirteen overseas territories, and twelve other nation states.

In short, the vagaries of the British constitution doubtlessly perpetuates this argument, and will continue to do so until such times as we all subjugated by the United States of Europe, when such arguments will become irrelevant.

I hope that clears this up. :)

With a history steeped in royal history, back to the Act of Union, and the creation of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, they merged the monachy, not the countries.

Politically, Scotland has always been unqiue, even before the Scottish Parliament, as many Acts of Parliament were passed as Scottish Law and English Law which are still distinct, the education system and never merged and the monetary system is still issued, not by the Bank of England but the three Scottish Clearing Banks, Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank, and the Clydesdale.

So, yes, they are separate, but not autonomous, countries

My bit for the cause:-

Alright, Scotland is a country that is not recognised by any other country and secretly exists inside another country.

Ignorance by other people, doesn't deny the fact that Scotland and England are separate Countries, which make up a the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article describes a type of political entity. Country is also a short form for the countryside or the country music genre.
A country, a land, is a geographical area that connotes an independent political entity, with its own government, administration, laws, often a constitution, police, military, tax rules, and population, who are one another's countrymen. "Country" is the English equivalent of French pays, Compare the concept of nation, below.

A country may be an independent, self-governing state. All internationally recognized states follow to some degree international standards in terms of the creation of official national symbols such as flags, and political rights such as citizenship. There are currently 192 countries or states recognized by the United Nations.

"State" as a synonym for "country" tends to cause confusions for citizens of the United States, where a "state" is a sub-national entity comparable to a "province" elsewhere.

Some countries are nation-states – for example, France or Israel. In these nation states one particular nation is dominant. Within France, however the Breton nation represent a proud and cohesive unity, a folk with their own specific heritage. Other states, such as Canada, the People's Republic of China, Spain or the United Kingdom contain several such nations.

Sometimes, parts of states with a distinct history or culture are called "lands" or "countries": England, Scotland and Wales – the three nations on the island of Great Britain – are known as countries, even though they are effectively governed as "components" of the British state. Tibet, an autonomous region of China, is similarly called a country in everyday speech. Ireland is also sometimes called a country, even though it consists of one nation-state (the Republic of Ireland) and one component of a different state (Northern Ireland).

The terms country, nation, state and land are casually used as synonyms, but in a more strict usage they are distinguished:

country is the geographical area
nation designates a people, however national and international both confusingly refer as well to matters pertaining to what are strictly states, as in national capital, international law
state is about government, and an entity in international law
land may be used for "a country and its people" but also thought of as country belonging to a nation or a monarch

Historicial and cultural differences have always existed between the Scotland and England, both had their own Royality and in fact it was the after the heirless Queen Elizabeth I of England died that the son of her cousin Mary Queen o'Scots, King James VI Of Scotland, was crowned King James I of England.

The Act of Union, to create the United Kingdom created one national state, of 4 countries.

If you notice any postbox in Scotland the intials of Queen Elizabeth II, are removed, and merely state ER, whereas in England, they state ERII, as Scotland never had a Queen Elizabeth before the present Queen.

England, Scotland, Wales are Ireland, despite being part of the UK, still keep their national identity of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. Scotland, Wales and Ireland have their own national languages apart from English, Scotland and England have their own legal systems, banking and education systems.

Besides, the former USSR, which as one point contained most of Eastern Europe, was made up of separate countries annexed by Russia. Despite not being automonous and independent, Latvia, Estonia etc were still countries part of the USSR