He was one of 102 academics and researchers to publicly endorse the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, arguing that Scotland’s colleges would not be harmed by a split from London.

The debate over September’s vote – featured on social media under the #indyref hashtag - is often rancorous, perhaps reflecting the personal nature of viewpoints on identity and nationhood. More than one-third of people say Scotland will be left badly divided after the vote regardless of which side wins, according to a poll for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper.

However, Scotland’s bid for independence is one of the few in modern history to be conducted without any background threat of armed conflict. “The majority of independence movements have involved some kind of violent struggle, including Ireland, for example,” said Jonathan Sher, a 61-year-old children’s charity director from North Carolina who has also applied for dual citizenship and has publicly urged Scots to join him in voting "Yes". “The fact that Scotland’s campaign for independence has been a truly peaceful process doesn’t make it headline news but it is not any less important.”

He added: “Americans went through their own struggle for independence 200 years ago and it turned out pretty well for them. They were the pioneers of this process! You would expect America to look out for what’s in its own best interests and there’s no reason why Scotland shouldn’t be exactly the same.”

Americans’ interest in Scotland’s future shouldn’t be surprising given historic ties that include an estimated 40 million Americans with Scottish or Scots-Irish ancestry. Numerous Scots were among the original signatories to the Declaration of Independence and Scotland’s evocative 1320 Declaration of Arbroath against English rule is often cited as the inspiration for the 1776 text.

“The ideas behind the Declaration of Independence were those of Scottish philosophers,” explained Tom Devine, historian, author and director of the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies at the University of Edinburgh. “Posts such as Glasgow were hugely important for the busy shipping trade, creating a bridge of boats across the Atlantic that exchanged not only commodities but also ideas.”

But while the U.S. was founded on the simplicity of its separation of powers and federal system of government, the U.K.’s unwritten constitution makes the issue of Scotland’s future one of extraordinary complexity.

After a long campaign for home rule, Scotland got its own parliament in Edinburgh in 1999 but control of defense, borders and most taxation remains with the U.K. parliament in London’s Westminster - and ultimate authority lies with the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

The nationalist government in Edinburgh says Scotland could keep the pound sterling currency and the monarchy but break free from London control to become an independent country that would stand alone in international groups such as the European Union. Scotland’s 5.3 million inhabitants represent about eight percent of the total U.K. population and would create a new country bigger than Ireland (4.5 million) but smaller than Denmark (5.5 million).

"Hawaiians are particularly interested in the independence debate because of their own sovereignty movement"

The “Better Together” campaign, which seeks a "No" vote in the Sept. 18 referendum, disputes that claim. It also says independence would be an “irresponsible gamble” financially and that Scots would have to raise taxes to cover the loss of entities and public services currently shared with England. The "No" campaign is backed by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties that form Britain’s current coalition government, and Labour – the opposition party in both the British and Scottish parliaments.

It’s a debate that many Americans – including Scottish expats and Scots descendants - are hearing from afar. The New York-based American Scottish Foundation has organized events to help members keep up with the arguments.

“The subject of the referendum has replaced haggis or golf as the go-to conversation of choice with strangers once they hear my Scottish accent,” said Peter Reid, an Austin, Texas-based attorney from Scotland who has lived in the U.S. for 12 years and is a core member of Americans for an Independent Scotland. "Hawaiians are particularly interested in the independence debate because of their own sovereignty movement.”