The UK heads the G8, big decisions..

North Sea Empire in red, Vassals in orange, Allies in yellow

This will be the year the UK chooses its path. The UK is at the head of the G8 table for 2013, the Europe decision couldn't have landed on a better year. Being head of the G8 should optimise the negotiating power of the UK and its relationship with the EU.

Whatever the result of an in out vote, should the EU continue to pursue the idea of a united Europe, the biggest question is how can the UK avoid becoming a pariah on the outside?

We could draw parallels from the ancient city of Palmyra and separately Edward the Confessors reign in the 11th century which lasted 23 years. Edwards indecisiveness over his succession, ultimately lead to one the largest social changes in British history - the Norman invasion.

Edward"s father was Harthacnut the son of the popular king Cnut who ruled Norway, Denmark and England. England and the entire British Isles was deeply interwoven with northern Europe and the Scandinavian peoples or Norse men. This was known as the North Sea Empire which controlled the Black, North and Atlantic Seas and which had links that went beyond Constantinople.

King Cnut incorporated England into his Empire and with this came his connections to a vaster world. Upon King Cnuts death his various realms would begin the process of disintegration. Magnus took control of Norway and became king, meanwhile Harthacnut seized England to be united with his throne in Denmark.

Harthacnut was widely described as a bad king and with his death Cnuts North Sea Empire died with him. Enter Edward the Confessor who was to become the new king of England.

Back to the EU, confronted by three options Britain can choose one of the following;

1. To be granted "second class" membership. This would make the UK an associate state allowing Britain to keep its place in the single market but in turn forfeiting the UK's decision-making power and influence over a federal Europe.

2. To opt out completely.

3. To opt for further integration.


1.The first option would literally end up doing more harm than good for the UK. Although there are hints that negotiation may still be possible, accepting a "second class" membership would give the green light to be treated as such. By sacrificing influence over decisions in return for Britain keeping its place in the single market, could leave the UK open to a combination of arm twisting mechanisms that could slowly force the UK into a position of vulnerability and submission. If that  happened it would ultimately force the UK into further integration or to leave the EU entirely.

2.The second option, to leave the EU is tempting to many, many who wish to see the repatriation of power and would push for this. If the UK proceeded in leaving the EU, yes it would hand those who succeeded in doing so control over their power and sovereignty. But would a united British Isles survive this option? With a super power 15 miles too close, putting Britain in a similar situation that those in Hong Kong currently find themselves in with China. There is also the possibility Scotland would seek independence from the newly independent UK. Should Scotland do so, they may choose to reapply for EU membership. Alex Salmond has already made it clear that if independence was won he would attempt to make Scotland a competitor to London's financial zone, and perhaps with support from the EU Scotland could achieve this.

3.The third option would be to become a European superstate. From Britain's perspective I call this the 'Palmyran option'. Palmyra was an ancient city situated in the heart of the Syrian desert. Palmyra was famed for its trade routes that had connections in both the Eastern and Western empires. Its geographic location was its prize as were its networks. The Romans, being pragmatic, recognised this and under their control Palmyra entered an era of unprecedented economical prosperity. Writer Terry Jones noted that Palmyrene trade networks owned ships in mediterranean waters and controlled parts of the Indian Silk route, "Palmyra became one of the richest cities in the near East. The Palmyrans had really pulled off a great trick, they were the only people who managed to live alongside Rome without being Romanized. They simply pretended to be Romans".The Romans respected the Palmyran trading capacity and did not wish to interfere with its inner workings, this way it remained largely independent, economically and culturally, under Roman Emperor Hadrian Palmyra became a metropolis with "free" status, this meant the city could retain its own form of government.

The ancient city Palmyra eventually became a splinter empire that broke away from the Roman empire.

Britain like Palmyra has a unique geographic location and it has certain things that other European nations no longer have but would like to obtain. Britain still possesses fourteen overseas territories, Diego Garcia for example, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands and even the lately disputed Falklands. Britain itself has nearly 20,000 miles of coastline making her a formidable ocean trade network to this day.

The British leadership should be looking to nations like Norway and Denmark where scepticism of the EU remains high, like in the UK roughly 50/50. This formation would create a formidable counter weight to an ever increasingly Franco German dominated EU. By reigniting a Cnut style North Sea League of Nations that are culturally and socially similar,  these countries could increase their bargaining power

These nations have retained their constitutional monarchies unlike those in central Europe making them traditional and conservative. The souls of these nations are indisputably similar for instance the Church of Norway, Church of England and the Church of Denmark.

England and the British Isles had for a long time been on the same wavelength as the Scandinavian peninsula, today these nations are similar in the sense that they have kept only one foot in the door regarding EU membership.

When Edward the Confessor died his failing to anoint an heir left a vacuum that plenty wanted to fill, his indecision open to manipulation . Whatever choice Britain is to make over the EU, her indecisiveness will have great consequence as will the decision itself.


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