Isn't it technically independent?

I would imagine that being independent wouldn't help Scotland in the long run. There's too many issues with them gaining independance (currency, membership of the EU, oil in the North Sea, military stationed in Scotland etc.) to see it happening; though it will be close.

Having said that, arguably Scotland deserves more power for it's own affairs in the country. Having everything controlled in London is rather unfair, and it can't be beneficial for the country.

So yeah, there's certainly pros and cons about it for sure. It's which outweighs the other, and that is for the Scottish to decide.

All I know is that they want to vote for independence, to leave the UK and maybe join the Nordic council instead. To make a country more similar to Norway, with oil fund reserves and stuff. Right?

No but it is technically a country.

I'm confused now. So it's a country, but not independent? How does that even work lol?!

Scotland and Wales are their own country but they are part of the UK, which is governed by London. So they are their own countries, but the currency is the same, laws are the same etc.

I always thought the UK was just a name for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern-Ireland, nothing more. Mind=blown, going to blame my teacher.

David Bowie said Scotland needs to stay in UK /thread

Countries are different than states. Normally they're the same thing but in rare cases there are countries which are not sovereign states. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country which has four countries inside of it (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). However none of those "countries" are recognised as independent countries or sovereign states, paradoxically by definition then they can't be countries.

So in order to make everyone happy those countries are also known as consituent countries, ironically unoffically. So now the definition changes to the UK is a sovereign state made up of other countries, does this imply the UK is not a country? Maybe, but fuck it.

Think of the USSR, technically speaking all of the Soviet republics. On second thought don't think of the USSR, it gets even more confusing.

No.

Even if they somehow win the vote to cede the first time, they likely won't get the conditions they'd like for separation.

Which is why the SNP objects to a two referendum system.

They want to be able to promise all the North Sea Oil and taking on less then per capita UK debt when both situations are likely impossible.

Not to mention they somehow want to keep UK currency. Which just seems like a pipe dream.