Independence

Independence is a specific condition for a nation, country, or state. It occurs when a population exercises self-government over its territory. This status usually includes sovereignty, which is the power to rule oneself. When a nation is independent, it is free from colonialism. This means it can build its own systems without interference from other nations. The opposite of independence is being a dependent territory or a colony.

Many factors drive a country or province to seek independence. Most causes stem from a feeling of inequality. People may feel they are treated unfairly by a dominant power. There are different ways to pursue this goal. Some groups use peaceful demonstrations to show their desire for freedom. India is a notable example from 1947. Other groups have engaged in violent wars to achieve sovereignty. Algeria is an example of this path in 1962.

It is important to distinguish independence from other political terms. Autonomy is a type of independence granted by an overseeing authority. However, that authority still retains ultimate power over the territory. A protectorate is an autonomous region that relies on a larger government for protection. There is also a distinction between independence and revolution. Revolutions often aim to redistribute power within a state. For example, the Mexican Revolution of 1910 led to a new constitution. It was not primarily an armed struggle against Spain.

History shows four major periods of declaring independence. The first period began in the 1770s with the American Revolutionary War. This wave continued until the 1830s as Spanish American wars of independence ended. The second period occurred after the First World War. This was due to the breakup of the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and German empires. Finland gained independence during the Russian Revolution in 1917.

The third period began after 1945. During this time, seventy newly independent states emerged. They rose from European colonial empires and the collapse of the Nazi German Reich. This era also saw the end of the Empire of Japan. The fourth major period occurred in the early 1990s. This followed the breakup of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.

States often use a declaration of independence to claim their rights. A declaration is a formal, public proclamation. The earliest surviving example is Scotland's Declaration of Arbroath from 1320. The U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776 is a very famous successful example. More recent declarations include Azawad in 2012 and Catalonia in 2017. Some declarations are only partially recognized by other countries. Kosovo is an example from 2008, as Serbia has not formally recognized it.

Legal rights play a huge role in how independence is achieved. In the 20th century, the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples helped colonies. The right to self-determination allows for self-governance. This applies to groups like indigenous peoples. However, self-determination is not usually a right of secession. Secession is generally determined by the laws of sovereign states. Independence depends on the actual capacity to function as a state.