This article was originally written around 2008 and published on Google Knol. It is republished here as a historical document and reflects the author’s ideas at the time of writing.
This is part of the Project Policrateia series.
Introduction
The Celtic Confederation is a proposal for a cultural confederation for the Celtic Nations in Europe. Besides the cultural aspects, economic cooperation and international lobbying — mostly at the European Union — can also become part of the confederation’s tasks. Another aspect worth considering is the development of education and science policy.
As two of the nations are part of the United Kingdom and one is part of France, guarantees shall be built in to prevent those two nations from feeling threatened. One such guarantee is that Ireland shall sign a mutual defence treaty with the UK, which can only be cancelled when both nations agree. With this treaty, the UK is assured that the confederation is no threat to its territorial integrity. For France another measure must be taken. One option is that Brittany receives the status of partner region of the confederation rather than full member. Although in practice, this will make little effective difference.
Notes by I. Klees: A confederation of Celtic nations would be useful if the main purpose were to preserve the Celtic identity of the involved nations and to direct resources toward promoting and safeguarding their common cultural heritage. France and the UK do have an interest in this, since any constituent part of these countries with a distinct identity is bound to attract tourism and hence revenue.
Proposed Members
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Isle of Man
Scotland
Wales
Cornwall
Brittany
This region is quite different from the two groups above (Scotland & Ireland, Wales & Northern Ireland) because it is part of France rather than the UK. Despite the image that the Celtic language is mainly extinct, the Breton language (ar Brezhoneg) is still one of the most living Celtic languages — spoken by about 8% of the population, and much more widely than Icelandic. About 300,000 persons can speak Breton in Brittany (about 500,000 worldwide). Even if it has been greatly damaged by French centralisation, it is still more vital than Scots Gaelic.
The French constitution is highly centralistic, giving little power to regions. Departments 22 (Côtes-du-Nord), 29 (Finistère), 35 (Ille-et-Vilaine) and 56 (Morbihan) form the “Région-Bretagne”, grouping four of the five Breton departments. The fifth Breton department, Loire-Atlantique, is part of the “Pays-de-la-Loire” region. The Bretons currently hold some hope of administrative reunification.
The Confederation
The topmost authority for these Celtic regions shall be a confederate one. Why a confederation and not a federation? Because the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish members are part of the UK, and Brittany is part of France — making a stronger federation impossible. The confederation shall not be named as such, since the UK and France would object. A possible solution is that it be established as a foundation in Ireland, the only fully independent Celtic nation.
The organisation is structured so that the members (the poleis) elect the Board of Governors (B.o.G.), which acts as the confederation parliament. From the B.o.G., a Board of Directors (B.o.D.) is elected, which serves as the actual government. Its members function as secretaries for each policy area: Celtic Culture & Heritage, Education, Economic Development and Cooperation, and Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry and Environmental Conservation. The B.o.D. has at least six members — one secretary per policy area, plus a Secretary-General acting as Prime Minister.
Secretary-General
This person chairs the B.o.D., sets the main policy outline and acts as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He or she represents the Confederation at the European Union and may send ambassadors to EU offices within the confederation’s policy areas. The Confederation can use Irish embassies; at these embassies, a confederation office with representatives from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Brittany cooperates with the Irish staff.
Secretary of Celtic Culture & Heritage
After the Secretary-General, this is the most important person in the B.o.D. Tasks include encouraging cultural events for Celts within the Confederation and worldwide, and guarding Celtic heritage: historical sites and buildings.
The International Celtic Games
Organised by the International Celtic Games Organisation (ICO), these are the Olympics for Celts worldwide. Not only Irish, Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Breton teams participate, but also teams from the USA, Australia, New Zealand and (South) Africa — at least 21 teams in total. The games consist mainly of typical Celtic disciplines: stone throwing, log throwing and hurling, alongside regular athletics and typical British sports such as rugby, football, hockey and cricket. Cultural competitions in bagpiping, sword dancing, poetry, theatre and music round out the programme. The games are held every two years, alternating summer and winter, rotating between Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany and Northern Ireland.
The CBC
The Celtic Broadcasting Cooperation is the new pan-Celtic broadcaster: a merger between the Scottish BBC and the National Irish Broadcaster. It broadcasts regionally in the English dialect of each nation (or in French for Brittany) and in the Celtic language. Via the CBC World Service it reaches the Celtic diaspora worldwide.
Secretary of Education & Science
Education is a crucial tool for nation-building. Celts have always been important scientists with a strong sense of national identity. The British Empire grew partly thanks to Celtic inventors and philosophers (the Scots Adam Smith and James Watt). The Secretary of Education & Science must encourage this scientific focus and, in coordination with the nations, design a new educational approach applicable in every language and Celtic sub-culture.
Secretary of Economic Affairs
This person oversees the economic development of the confederation members. Where internal development is a task for the national parliament or polis, the Confederation focuses on international institutions. It lobbies the UK, France and the EU for investments and subsidies, and coordinates cooperation between members. A specific task is the development of Celtic crafts — small businesses producing silverwork, goldwork and similar goods in typical Celtic styles — alongside promoting tourism to the Celtic nations.
Secretary of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry
This secretary coordinates the national parliaments on these issues. Fishery in the Irish Sea in particular requires coordination, as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Ireland all border it and make economic claims. Together with the Secretary of Environmental Conservation, the secretary works on developing new agricultural techniques and forestry methods.
Secretary of Environmental Conservation
This secretary not only preserves natural heritage but also ensures healthy urban environments. The role effectively combines classical environmental and nature conservation, urban planning and public health. In cooperation with the poleis and nations, new city plans are designed, new public transport initiatives are encouraged, and classical nature conservation tasks are carried out.
Security
Since the UK parliament is able to withdraw Scottish and Welsh autonomy, both authorities must build in a security mechanism. Their parliament or assembly can create associations and merge with them — for example a Scottish Parliament Association and a Welsh Assembly Association of which every Scot and Welshman is a member. The Board of Governors then effectively constitutes the members of parliament, who in turn elect the government or Board of Directors. The specific departments are structured as foundations; the Secretary of Culture thus becomes the director of the Cultural Foundation. Should the UK withdraw autonomy, the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish can maintain their autonomy through this structure. The same system applies to Brittany, should the French government seek to constrain their autonomy.
See also the Project Policrateia series, which offers relevant philosophies for sub-sovereign forms of governance.