^aMountbatten Centre for International Studies, Politics and International Relations, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. E-mail: bpj1@soton.ac.uk

Abstract

Given Scotland's ongoing resentment towards the British national deterrent, the steady withdrawal of the British military's conventional establishments and the devolved parliament's restricted manoeuvrability, some might argue that the Scottish electorate is being driven to full autonomy. But if Scotland is to reach and sustain full autonomy, there are certain military prerequisites that must be satisfied. It is this certainty that will most likely serve to reshape current nationalist policies regarding NATO, and perhaps modify the party's position on the British nuclear deterrent. To maintain credibility the independent state must have the ability to defend its citizens, territory and national interests, but an autonomous Scottish government would be encouraged to appreciate the level of intrusiveness dissolution of the Union represents to NATO and British military establishment.