If Britain leaves the EU

[Meldread]

20. If the EU breaks apart, Europe as we know it begins to collapse.

The stability of Europe as we know it is due entirely to the creation of the EU. The break up of the EU will inevitably lead to an end to European stability, and a growing hostility between European nations.

I am not going to sit here and argue that the EU is perfect. It is not. It is a deeply imperfect institution, and that is putting it mildly. However, all of the flaws that it possesses exist because the individual nations that make it up are trying to maintain too much independence from the union. It would be a bit like California deciding that it wants greater independence from the United States as a whole. In an ideal situation the EU's nations would unify to function more like states in the United States.

If that were to happen, and they were to have a greater and more stronger economic and political union, a lot of the problems experienced by the EU's institutions would begin to be alleviated.

As for Scotland... it's important to remember that the United Kingdom is called "United" for a reason. It is made up of four different "countries" which are England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Overwhelmingly, the people of Scotland and Northern Ireland want to remain in the EU. In fact the Scottish are extremely pro-EU. If the UK leaves the EU it will have an impact on Scotland as well, whose people are not entirely happy with all the power England has over them. The EU is largely seen as the counterweight to English rule. There could easily be another push for Scotland to leave the UK, and if the EU is on the other side promising membership and assistance in helping Scotland gain its independence, then it is almost certain the Scottish will choose to leave. There is also a possibility of Ireland unifying so that Northern Ireland could rejoin the EU for similar reasons.

It is in the interest of the entire world to see Europe as a whole remain united and stable. The United States, as well as every other nation, should want this to be the case. I think if the UK leaves there is a potential opportunity for the EU to grow even stronger, but only if the UK is not rewarded for leaving. If the UK suffers for leaving the EU, particularly if it breaks up and its individual parts join the EU, then England will eventually relent and join as well--not as a half-assed partner, but as a full fledged member. The union could emerge stronger, but only if the UK does not benefit from leaving.