Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, is fond of saying that
when the United Nations was first formed in 1945, it had just 50
members. Today, he adds, that figure has risen to almost 200.
It's a nice line, although in reality the emergence of a new
nation remains relatively rare. But there does seem to be a
pattern emerging, in Europe and beyond. In Spain (Catalonia) and
Belgium (Flanders), as well as the United Kingdom (Scotland),
secessionist movements appear to be on the rise. All three have
existed for decades, yet they seem particularly lively in the
second decade of the 21st century. Thus Salmond, who this
weekend addresses delegates at the Scottish National Party's
annual conference in the Scottish city of Perth, likes to talk
of Scotland's "home rule journey" being part of a bigger
international trend. His point is clear: "independence," far
from being dangerous or unusual, is a natural state of affairs.
Professor Robert Young, an expert in secession, says all three
countries have a history of regi