Alex Salmond's former colleague, Jim Sillars, reflects on the life of 'a politician of the first rank', one who 'made the SNP electable', but whose flaws ultimately 'proved to be his undoing'.
Among the hundred countries balloting in 2024, only one is of global importance: the United States, the world’s hegemon. Whether it can keep that status is a vital question for Americans, and although we have no votes, for Europeans too. Trump and Harris never ask and answer it. The US emerged as hegemon from the Breton Woods conference of 1944, where it created the present rules-based world order that all are expected to obey, rules it often ignores because it can. Every hegemon is resented by the rest, but its power is the reality they have to accept with reluctance (tune into Russian and Chinese complaints) or do a UK and invent the “special relationship” best described by John F Kenedy as America’s British lieutenant.
Jim Sillars believes the Yes movement can make a strong return but blames Nicola Sturgeon for its downfall since 2014
You will not like what I have to say. But someone has to tell you the truth.
IS the hammer of the law the best way to tackle human failings, or is the cleansing, disinfecting air of open discussion more likely to be successful?
A long time coming, but the report has depth, detail, quality in its scope of research, and is underpinned with intellectual rigour, a rare quality these days in the sphere of political economy.
