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The point I am making is that in its role of hegemon, which China isn't (yet) the USA is central to European defence and security through NATO, given that most European countries see NATO in that light. I have never been a fan of NATO, but it is fact that its members regard it as essential for their security. At present, take the USA out of NATO and what's left is a hollow shell. On the hegemon's wider role in the international community China, Russia and others, not necessarily allies of theirs, resent the Bretton Woods system, but so far have not come up with an alternative. I have taken a passive part in a number of seminars on this subject, and it has been fascinating to listen as people in Asia in particular are wrestling with how to change the sytem as distinct from eliminating it entirely.

As for Scotland: a new enlightenment is unfortunately not on the cards. Devolution, instead of broadening our politics has provicialised it. There are no international policy debates in Scotland. We do pick on issues such as Gaza, but there is no understanding in the political class that economic power has shifted from the Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific, and all our economic and external policy must be seen in that context.

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The UKs offshore tax havens should be exposed for the fraudulent constructs they are. For 70years they have enabled the financially corrupt to bypass HMRC and thus contributions to the UK exchequer. The activity has deprived business and manufacturing of R&D findings. It is the financial haven of the arms dealer and drug runner.

When is this going to be fully exposed?

When Starmer funds his new dreams by offshore banks where does the profit go?

It is said these offshore jurisdictions have unmasked $50trillion.

It has to stop.

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The US is hardly supporting us Jim. China is already the worlds largest economy and BRICS+ is maturing faster due to UKUSEU neolibcons desperate and deadly attempts to be seen to be retaining fading hegenomy. A new Scottish enlightenment could assist in transforming the world. We need to acknowledge that far from supporting us, the post Bretton Woods settlement has chained us as it has attempted to enchain the whole world. In an emerging world of sovereign nation states based on equality and mutual respect in political economic and social relations we need to think afresh. You’re right though, we should be planning how we negotiate a difficult and dangerous transition.

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