United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

Located at the north-western coast of the continental Europe are Island of Great Britain and the Island of Ireland. The two of the islands are not specific only, by their location but also that except of their neighboring countries on the islands, they are surrounded by nothing but water. Their surroundings provided them an abstract barrier which helped the people living on these Islands to grow a very rare culture and way of life.

The many settlers and civilizations which called these Islands home, have built a cosmopolitan place, for every nation to observe. The mixture of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic and Roman origins can be seen and felt throughout the Island’s architecture, language or even behavior.

Obviously, this process started on the Island of Great Britain and then expanded on the Island of Ireland, which may be the reason, why Great Britan is considered to be the more profitable of the two islands. As for the United Kingdom it includes four countries, to be concrete- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, UK also includes fourteen British Overseas Territories also called colonies, which are a heritage from one of the most powerful empires, the British Empire. Even though, today’s colonies are mostly fully sovereign states, the British language, culture and legal system are applied here.

Unlike the Southern Ireland, Northern Ireland did not become a Free State after the act of British Parliament which had said that the people of Ireland had the right of choice. Northern Ireland decided to stay within the ranks of the UK and is considered to be its region. It is believed that it was the religious freedom, which finally made the difference between joining the UK or not. Ironically, former Irish see themselves as British, while latter see themselves Irish, but some of the both communities simply describe themselves as Northern Irish. What also played an important role was the power of the UK´s alliance and that the UK keeps its countries under defensive wings.

Specialty of the Northern Ireland is, that it has always been the most industrialized region of the UK and the money stream has always run up to great heights. After the World Wars, the economy of NI has been increasing in every aspect, and as a result, from the 4 countries of the UK, NI suffered from the last economical crisis the least.

Nowadays, economical problems are not the only difficulties which bother the UK and NI as well. The state of Scotland has recently started the fight for independence, which means the UK would lose a friendly state and partially, their power and influence over the islands, which of course, they fear the most. More so, if Scotland really achieved their goal of becoming independent from the UK, they would be seen as an example for other countries being part of the UK.

As for now, both UK and NI has shown a great transparency and determination, to keep Scotland within the UK. What was surprising is that British Prime Minister has requested the people of England to show Scotland that in their eyes they are part of one big international family, as they live, and cooperate on the same Island. This is an action, which should be seen as a recommendation as to how to cooperate among the European Union. The progress of the UK is not in the quantity of the states, rather in the approach they have, and that is something we should all learn from.