The Scottish Question: Scotland's Independence Referendum

Friday, September 12, 2014, 10:00 - 11:30 am
The Brookings Institution
Falk Auditorium
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

On September 18, Scottish voters will take to the polls to determine whether or not Scotland becomes an independent country. With the “yes” and “no” campaigns entering the final stretch and debate intensifying, recent polling has shown the “no” vote’s lead may be narrowing. The results of this vote will have consequences across the United Kingdom and Europe, where other areas with distinct national, historic, and linguistic identities are also considering independence. The Scottish referendum has the consent of the U.K.’s government and the debate has been open, transparent, and comprehensive. But questions remain regarding the economic, political and security implications of the referendum.

On September 12, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings and the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America will host a panel discussion to consider the pros and cons of Scottish independence and to elaborate on what either outcome would mean for Scotland, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. Brookings Senior Fellow and CUSE Director Fiona Hill will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion. Panelists will include Professors Charlie Jeffery and Juliet Kaarbo of the University of Edinburgh, Financial Times journalist Geoff Dyer, and Brookings Fellow Jeremy Shapiro.

Following their remarks, the panelists will take questions from the audience.

Introduction and Moderator:
Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow and Director, Center on the United States and Europe, The Brookings Institution
Panelists:
Geoff Dyer, Journalist, Financial Times
Charlie Jeffer, Vice Principal for Public Policy and Impact and Director of the Future of the U.K. and Scotland Programme, University of Edinburgh
Juliet Kaarbo, Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh
Jeremy Shapiro, Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution

To RSVP for this event, please click here.

We look forward to seeing you there!