Will Scotland become an independent country? We will know the answer to the question by this weekend. Although opinion polls show a high percent of Scottish people favoring a "yes" vote, the ultimate result of the referendum remains uncertain, especially because influential British political figures, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Party chief Ed Miliband, have rushed to Scotland to rally support for a "no" vote.

Some observers believe that the effects of an independent Scotland would be hardly felt, because the Scottish people have not used (or intend to use) violence or other radical means to gain independence and the queen would remain the head of state of even an independent Scotland.

But such a view pertains to the Western world as a whole. For the United Kingdom, however, the effects of an independent Scotland would be long lasting. Also, it would give rise to some difficult questions. Since the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland was signed in 1707, Scotland has always been a key part of Great Britain and later the United Kingdom. If Scotland gains independence, the UK would lose one-tenth of its population and one-third of its land area, making it a country smaller than Uruguay.