ALEX Salmond has called for the case for independence to be heard by international bodies.
On a tour of Catalonia, the former first minister argued for both it and Scotland to prepare further presentations on their cases for independence to international authorities, as part of a bid to mobilise international support for the two causes.
Salmond argued that this practice had been “done throughout history”.
He added: “Scotland has been presenting its case to international authority since the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, while Catalonia made a sustained attempt to seek UN recognition at the very dawn of the United Nations in 1945.
“However, neither Scotland in 2014, nor Catalonia after the October 1 poll of 2017, were able to mobilise substantial international support. In contrast, Unionist governments in both countries were able to use the state networks of other countries as part of their campaigns of fear and intimidation.
“This must change before the next electoral tests in both countries. The new independence movements should prepare their strong cases, legal and political, to take to international authority and world opinion.”
Earlier last weekend, Salmond addressed the 54th International Conference of the Universitat Catalana d’Estiu.
During the speech, he reflected on the progress that Catalonia, Scotland and Ireland had made towards their goals of full independence over the last century.
Salmond said: “A century ago, Ireland was ruled (in titular form at least) by the last Lord Lieutenant as it had been more or less since the Norman invasion of England. Fifty years ago, Catalonia was emerging from fascist repression and twenty-five years ago Scotland had a quasi-colonial administration composed of politicians from the least successful parliamentary political party in the country.
“This Catalonia is autonomous, Scotland devolved, and Ireland independent, albeit still partitioned. In all three the struggle for full independence continues but that should not blind us to the progress that has been made.”
Salmond went on to outline seven requirements that would make the eventual success of these movements possible.
Salmond’s seven requirements
- To build and develop a vibrant national culture, this is something Salmond says all three nations have succeeded in doing.
- Stick to a peaceful constitutional pathway of finding independence, regardless of state provocations.
- To develop a detailed picture of what independence will mean for each nation and its society, rather than justify it as an act in itself.
- Build as large a communication network amongst independence organisations as possible to strengthen the ability to assert democracy against state power. Of all the three nations, Salmond says Scotland is the worst placed in reaching this goal due to Unionist influence over mainstream media.
- Keep national movements responsive to social and economic changes so that they can continue to propose alternative solutions to headline issues. He listed the economic recovery from the pandemic, inflation, climate change and the Russian invasion of Ukraine as examples.
- Maintain confidence in devolved polities as structures than can allow pro-independence parties to develop the ability to run a state.
- Hold leaders accountable for providing the strategy and circumstances where success for the goals of independence is possible. Salmond claimed that “Nothing is worse than raising expectations and failing to carry through”.
