Yes it is all hypothetical as it's a hypothetical scenario. The reality of larger nations bullying smaller ones though I'd argue is much less hypothetical. The belief that a smaller nation could avoid such confrontation by not playing an active role on the world stage wouldn't hold up either if the larger power decides to make something an issue and demands everyone follow along, eg see Russia now and China/USA at many points in recent history. The bullying is not meant as the EU bullying Scotland or necessarily any developed nation, it's more the rising powers with an anti-western agenda such as China and India. China are already attempting to enforce their censorship on the rest of the world. The issue isn't with self determination as such, it's with the consequences of being a small nation in a globalised world where the majority of countries are not healthy, functioning democracies and many of those that are are sliding into nationalism.
www.bbc.co.uk
