Questions tagged [secession]

Questions about the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity. Use with a country or other tag to identify the entity. For question about "local independence" use [local-autonomy], instead. When referring to a civil war, use also the tag: [armed-conflict].

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Could the UK re-join EU after leaving?

Let's assume that Article 50 is invoked and UK officially leaves EU For some reason, both UK populace (a large share) and enough powers that be or popular will in EU, decide that UK ought to re-join ...
user4012's user avatar
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50 votes
3 answers
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Do separatist nations inherit any national debt?

Do separatist nations inherit any national debt? For example, given Spain has a debt level of £1.1 trillion at the time of writing, if Catalonia becomes an independent nation is there any legal ...
Charlie's user avatar
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43 votes
8 answers
13k views

What can Scotland legally do to get independence?

All conservatives members so far confirmed that it is an absolute No to second Scotland referendum. As per that, assuming that no approval is given for a second referendum in the coming months, is ...
Mocas's user avatar
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35 votes
7 answers
8k views

Do any countries have a procedure that allows a constituent part of that country to become independent unilaterally?

In the last few years, there have been a few attempts made by such territories to achieve independence. Particularly in Europe, we had the cases of Scotland and Catalonia. In the case of Scotland, ...
CDJB's user avatar
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35 votes
5 answers
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Why do some Catalans want to become independent?

Why do some Catalans want to become independent? What has changed recently to increase their desire to be independent? I'd like to understand this situation, as I am currently completely ignorant ...
Nacht's user avatar
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33 votes
6 answers
11k views

Why do Australians want to remain under British monarchy?

If I am not wrong they once voted against being a republic country some years ago. I understand Australians and feel sympathy for them about that they are different from some other countries which ...
Persian Cat's user avatar
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29 votes
3 answers
7k views

What's the difference between declaring sovereignty and declaring independence?

What's the difference between declaring sovereignty and declaring independence? Aren't those the same thing? Please help me make sense of the following sentence (but keep in mind that my question is ...
Sergey Zolotarev's user avatar
27 votes
5 answers
8k views

Explain for kids — Why isn't Northern Ireland demanding a stay/leave referendum like Scotland?

https://politics.stackexchange.com/a/34470 is too abstruse — the history and religion conflicts are too complicated. I'm seeking answers written for a 10 y.o. Every week, I see a new article on the ...
user avatar
26 votes
3 answers
1k views

What will Scotland's status in the EU be, assuming the Scots vote for independence?

The Scots will vote on whether Scotland should be an independent country or not, on September 18, 2014. Assuming the majority vote is for independence, will Scotland remain in the European Union ...
yannis's user avatar
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22 votes
7 answers
7k views

Would the rest of the UK lose anything more than honor if Scotland exits the UK?

The nations of the UK are independent nations that share resources with each other, and sometimes a feeling of oneness and fraternity is seen among the good people of that land. Emotions are ...
Gary 2's user avatar
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22 votes
4 answers
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Could Westminster block the possibility of a referendum on Scottish independence?

With the recent events of Brexit, the SNP wants another referendum. Is it possible that Westminster would block this possibility? How could Scotland become independent without the approval of ...
Gautier C's user avatar
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21 votes
4 answers
7k views

Why do some countries allow their states to secede through legal means?

Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution states that states cannot secede from the U.S. through legal means. However, some other countries allow legal secession. Why do some countries ...
Sayaman's user avatar
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20 votes
6 answers
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Could Alaska leave the US, or would it have to buy its way out?

Whilst reading a list of minor (compared to the big two) US parties, I noticed there's an Alaskan Independence Party. Given that the US bought Alaska from Russia, would they legally be free to leave, ...
Phil Lello's user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why doesn't Russia recognize Kosovo if it uses the Kosovo precedent to justify annexing Crimea?

The Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Crimea written in 2014 explicitly mentions Kosovo as a precedent for unilateral declarations of independence. This declaration of independence was ...
Peter Olson's user avatar
20 votes
6 answers
14k views

Can Catalonia enter the EU after its independence from Spain?

Catalonia is a region of Spain where a big part of the population wants to be independent from Spain and form its own nation. If that happens, at the beginning, Catalonia as a nation will be out of ...
Ivan's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
2k views

What would be required for states to split off and become their own nation?

What would need to happen for a state such as California or Texas to split off and form its own independent nation? Who would need to agree and what would need passing (bills etc.)?
UKB's user avatar
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19 votes
5 answers
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Was it illegal for Spain to declare the Catalan independence referendum illegal?

Spain declared the independence referendum of Catalonia illegal. At the time this was reported I was shocked that nobody objected to the Spanish Government's declaration. Even now (two years later), ...
Matthias Schreiber's user avatar
18 votes
5 answers
7k views

What are the steps to become an independent country once independence has been declared?

In How to Become a Country in 3 Easy Steps they mention: Step 1 Declare independence Step 2 Gain recognition Step 3 Join the United Nations Foreign Policy has a similar article How to Start Your Own ...
fedorqui's user avatar
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18 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the main policy differences between Spain and (hoped-for) Catalonia?

What are the main policy differences between Spain (as exemplified by current government in power) and Catalonia (assuming it obtained its independence/sovereignity right now, and regional government ...
user4012's user avatar
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17 votes
5 answers
3k views

Why do the Spanish government not organize a national referendum for Catalonia independence?

The reason the Spanish government was not willing to allow Catalonia to handle any referendum is because a Spanish province is not allowed to single handedly secede, such decisions should be taken by ...
Bregalad's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
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Can Scotland hold an informal independence opinion-poll without Westminster's consent?

Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said that she would hold an independence referendum before 2023. Our democratic mandate to allow people to decide the country's future is beyond question. And at this ...
Scotland Forever's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why did the LPR and DPR in Donbas not form one People's Republic?

Right now, in the Donbas region of Ukraine, there are two quasi-states — the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). They emerged due to the events of the War in ...
isakbob's user avatar
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14 votes
5 answers
7k views

Is there any way for a country to get separated peacefully? [duplicate]

India has separatist movements in twenty two states. Most of them are militants. However, two of them stand out in the sense that their effort is nonviolent. One of them is Khalistan Movement, and the ...
user366312's user avatar
14 votes
5 answers
5k views

Independent, post-Brexit Scotland - would there be a hard border with England? [closed]

Suppose Brexit happens, and the UK leaves the EU without a customs union. Scotland then has a 2nd independence referendum on the basis that they voted heavily to stay within the EU, and Scotland ends ...
Algy Taylor's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why does Russia hold hard on keeping Chechnya?

Since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, lot of its republics chose to be independent states and most succeeded without any significant pressure from the then newly established Russia. But one ...
Neurotransmitter's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
3k views

Would Article 5 of NATO apply in case Catalonia attempts to secede from Spain by force?

For many years now Catalonia has been attempting to peacefully secede from Spain through a binding referendum. However the Spanish authorities are constantly undermining their efforts by not accepting ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
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12 votes
7 answers
2k views

In which case is separatism considered legitimate?

What historical background usually gives a nation/minority within another country legal grounds for separatism in the eyes of international community?
qwaz's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can a UK county gain independence?

What is the law/rules around if a county (let's say Northumberland) wants to gain independence, whether to join another country (let's say/assume future independent Scotland) or to join the EU as an ...
Mocas's user avatar
  • 4,310
12 votes
3 answers
742 views

If the independence vote in Catalunya is successful. What are the possible outcomes?

The autonomous parliament of Catalunya is about to hold a referendum to secede from Spain. Given that Catalunya has their own police force. What are the possible outcomes if the Catalan people vote ...
dan-klasson's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
989 views

How supported is the idea of a fully independent Indian state among US Native Americans?

Some people (e.g. here) accuse USA of supporting other countries' independence movements (Kosovo/Palestine/Tibet/Taiwan, depending on your definition of "support") as being in conflict with the fact ...
user4012's user avatar
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11 votes
6 answers
4k views

What other European countries are experiencing independence movements?

UK, Spain, and now Italy have regions that have held referendums on independence or autonomy after the leaders of Italy's two wealthiest northern regions have claimed victory in a non-binding ...
user 1's user avatar
  • 6,201
11 votes
3 answers
549 views

What steps are required for the successful legal secession of California from the United States?

From what I have heard from Yes California, it requires a state constitutional amendment and then a referendum put before the populace. Are there any other steps?
wogsland's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why is Scotland attempting to become independent?

I realize "Scotland" isn't trying to become independent; a group of politicians are trying to make Scotland independent, and a lot of people in Scotland (roughly half, depending on the poll and the ...
Richard Rast's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
661 views

What determines whether Western countries (and NATO) recognize separatist movements? (especially when comparing Kosovo and the Donbass)

Consider the following scenario: there is a region in a country inhabited primarily by a different ethnic group than the majority of the rest of the country, and has been living there and composing ...
vsz's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
479 views

What are typical consequences for a political party of losing an independence referendum?

The signature policy of the devolved Scottish government's ruling party (the Scottish National Party) is that Scotland should be an independent state, separate from the United Kingdom. To that end, ...
user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
734 views

What are the benefits to the rest of the UK from Scottish independence?

We've read a lot about why Scottish independence would benefit Scotland and hinder the UK. I'm interested to know how Scottish independence (voting YES to devolution) will benefit the UK on a ...
Aswiny's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
6k views

Can a US state opt to become a territory without leaving the nation as a whole?

This relates to an item legislated by the Texas republican party recently. Overlooking the more regressive and dangerous items, and the frivolous and inconsequential items, they are also throwing the ...
Michael Macha's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
766 views

Is it difficult for Scotland to become a member of the EU if they gain independence from the UK following Brexit

Britain is ready for Brexit (to quit the EU) and Scotland wants another independence referendum which the UK refused. Following Brexit, if Scotland gains independence from the UK, is it difficult for ...
i--'s user avatar
  • 411
10 votes
3 answers
756 views

Why does the international community recognise South Sudan independence, but not Somaliland?

Following a bloody civil war, South Sudan declared independence from Sudan after a referendum, an independence which is widely recognised but which was followed by another civil war. Somalia has been ...
gerrit's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are there any regions in the Russian Federation with active independence movements?

I'm curious if there are any active separatist movements in the Russian Federation. By "active", I mean politically organized, funded and regionally supported to the extent that they could ...
The Grumbleputty's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
696 views

Legal basis for self-determination vs. territorial integrity

There are many examples where self-determination means secession of a territory from a state, typically opposed by the latter. The most obvious recent example are the eastern regions of the Ukraine, ...
Roger Vadim's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
724 views

How could Scotland become independent given that Theresa May rejected a referendum?

Given the stance of Theresa May on allowing Scotland a second referendum, how could Scotland become independent? In short, if the UK government refused to acknowledge the mandate of the SNP to call a ...
penalosa's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Can Republika Srpska become independent?

The Republika Srpska is currently an administrative district within Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are currently two such districts, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is ...
Zlatan Omerović's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Does federalism lead to the separation of single states?

Federalism involves a great deal of power sharing, both at administrative and governmental levels. Federalism accepts the concept called 'right to self determination' to varying degrees, including '...
Ludwig Wittgenstein's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can a region of Ukraine secede or become part of another country lawfully?

If the population within a region of Ukraine wanted to become a part of Russia (suppose a fair vote was 75% in favor), is there a peaceful legal/government procedure in Ukraine to make this happen? ...
bobuhito's user avatar
  • 525
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why do the Palestinians in Gaza not declare an independent state?

The Palestinians want an independent state over the entire land of Israel, but cannot have it, as most of it is controlled by Israel. However, the Gaza strip has been abandoned by Israel over 15 years ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
986 views

Do the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have the right to declare independence from Ukraine under the Minsk Agreements?

Recently the DPR and the LPR declared their independence which Russia recognized. This declaration and subsequent recognition are not seen as legitimate by the international community. Is there a ...
Schwarz Kugelblitz's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
375 views

Does the increased localization of government control provide a solution to the stalemate caused by two party politics?

I was considering posting this in the Philosophy S.E., to ask if this was an example of The Middle Ground Fallacy, but then realized that my context is entirely political. Much of federal politics in ...
blud's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the French support for Frexit (France leaving EU) and why?

But the french also hate the EU. No more than 25% of them still supports it. If such a referendum were to happen in france, the result for leave would probably be much higher - comment on another ...
user4012's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
2k views

If Taiwan declares independence, would that mean they are relinquishing their claim over mainland China?

Preface Ever since the communist revolution in China, Taiwan aka the Republic Of China (ROC) has maintained that they are the rightful government of mainland China. The People's Republic of China (...
holaymolay's user avatar