Interesting article in this week's New Scientist saying the nation state (which only came into being about 150 years ago) has outlived its usefulness. It's a timely debate as such much of the discussion on Scotland has focused on what rUK calls itself - the article questions whether we need countries at all.
The article points out that until the 19th century, boundaries were flexible and no-one had passports so people could come and go as they pleased. Nationhood emerged with the industrial revolution (because in agarian societies people fed themselves or starved, no need for organisation).
The article asks if it's time for what it calls "neo-medievalism", a return to the city states of old - or at least more regionalism. Time for the kingdom of Sussex to come into being again?
What makes the article particularly interesting is that these ideas are being explored: I've been to two conferences in the last year where speakers have spoken about doing away with passports or national currencies - it's an idea that will run and run
(the article is behind a paywall I'm afraid, so I can't post it here)
The article points out that until the 19th century, boundaries were flexible and no-one had passports so people could come and go as they pleased. Nationhood emerged with the industrial revolution (because in agarian societies people fed themselves or starved, no need for organisation).
The article asks if it's time for what it calls "neo-medievalism", a return to the city states of old - or at least more regionalism. Time for the kingdom of Sussex to come into being again?
What makes the article particularly interesting is that these ideas are being explored: I've been to two conferences in the last year where speakers have spoken about doing away with passports or national currencies - it's an idea that will run and run
(the article is behind a paywall I'm afraid, so I can't post it here)