The question of Scotland’s role in the world today is multifaceted. In part, it is a function of the limited powers on international relations available to Scottish political institutions, as it remains part of the United Kingdom.
At the same time, as a European sub-state, Scotland can still articulate distinct positions and, in some ways, represent those positions directly in the world. Above all, however, Scotland’s outlook is defined not by global developments or a strategic vision, but by its inward-looking debate on independence.
