The Nation-State is Dying

I blogged about Scotland previously here and here. Thus, I couldn’t help but notice this BBC article:

An opinion poll commissioned by BBC Scotland has shown a clear majority (58%) of Scots want a referendum on independence next year. The poll also suggests support for the Union outstrips that for independence from the UK. However, the poll found the percentage of people saying they support independence varies widely depending on how the question is phrased. The Scottish Government wants to hold a referendum on the issue in 2010.

The nation-state has been the dominant form of organization for several centuries now, most able to provide public goods and above all security for the people. However, the hierarchical organizational structure coupled with the devolution of power – primarily through technology – is seeing states combine into larger entities (think EU) and regions move towards more autonomy and even independence. The trend is clear, ‘stock’ in the nation state is down and the people are moving away from it in both directions, up and down.

Sidenote: Good related article on Catalonia here. Hat tip to Chief Wiggum.