Darien Scheme. Historical Context and Modern-Day Significance

Essay from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 68%, Edinburgh Napier University, language: English, abstract: This essay presents the Darien Scheme in its historical context and discusses its current significance. First the historical context of the Darien scheme will be outlined, followed by a critical discussion of whether this part of Scottish history has any significance for the Scotland of today. In their dream of becoming one of the global players in the world and to gain economic independence and prosperity, Scotland tried to establish its own trading colony New Caledonia in Panama in 1698. This attempt failed disastrously and was one of the reasons for Scotland s loss of independence in 1707. Today, the question of independence emerges once more, and critics point to Scotland s last attempt in Darien to be an independent global player and suggest learning from history. The incomparability of context and time of the two situations is one of the arguments which can be held against this comparison. Nevertheless, arguments in favour of this comparison are the fact that it is about getting independence from England or the risk involved for Scotland s future, both in 1698 and today.