An independence referendum is a type of referendum in which the citizens of a territory decide whether the territory should become an independent country. The independence referendum is considered successful if the citizens vote in favor of independence or unsuccessful if they do not. A successful independence referendum may or may not result in independence, depending on whether relevant political factors outside of the territory recognize the results.

Contents 1 Former successful independence referendums 1.1 1905 1.2 1933 1.3 1946 1.4 1990 1.5 1991 1.6 1992 1.7 1993 1.8 1994 1.9 1999 1.10 2005 1.11 2006 1.12 2009 2 Former unsuccessful independence referendums 3 Expected independence referendums 4 Plausible future referendums 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Former successful independence referendums

[edit] 1905

• Norwegian union dissolution referendum, 1905^[1]

[edit] 1933

• Western Australian referendum to become a Dominion within the British Empire, British parliament declined to act on the results.

[edit] 1946

• 1946 Faroese referendum - after this referendum, the Faroe Islands declared independence on 18 September 1946; however, this declaration was annulled by Denmark.

[edit] 1990

• 1990 Slovenian independence referendum, led to independence of Slovenia.
• Tatarstan the Tatars declared independence on 30 August 1990; however, this declaration was annulled by Russia.

[edit] 1991

• 1991 Croatian independence referendum, led to independence of Croatia.
• 1991 Macedonian independence referendum, led to independence of the Republic of Macedonia.
• 1991 Ukraine independence referendum, led to independence of Ukraine.
• Georgian independence referendum, 1991, led to independence of Georgia.
• Transnistrian referendum, 1991, led to de-facto independence of Transnistria.

[edit] 1992

• 1992 Bosnian independence referendum, led to independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Bosnian war.
• South Ossetian independence referendum, 1992, led to de-facto independence of South Ossetia.

[edit] 1993

• Eritrean independence referendum, 1993, led to independence of Eritrea.

[edit] 1994

• Moldovan referendum, 1994 - the issue was whether Moldova should retain its independent status.

[edit] 1999

• 1999 East Timor referendum, UN organised referendum led eventually to acceptance of East Timor independence.

[edit] 2005

• Kurdistan Independence Referendum 2005, a non-binding referendum that favored independence by 98.8%

[edit] 2006

• Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006, a successful independence referendum that reestablished independent country of Montenegro.
• South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006 - the issue was whether South Ossetia should retain its de-facto independent status.
• Transnistrian referendum, 2006 - the issue was whether Transnistria should retain its de-facto independent status.

[edit] 2009

• Query on Catalonia independence, a municipal non-binding query on the independence of Catalonia in more than 200 municipalities of 940.
• Tamil Eelam, many referenda were held within Tamil dispora communities in Norway, France, and Canada. There was overwelming support.

[edit] Former unsuccessful independence referendums

• 1967, 1993, 1998 Puerto Rico status referenda, unsuccessful.
• 1980 Quebec referendum, unsuccessful.
• Montenegrin independence referendum, 1992, unsuccessful.
• 1995 Quebec referendum, unsuccessful.

[edit] Expected independence referendums

• Southern Sudan independence referendum (expected in 2011)
• Bougainville independence referendum (predicted by Peace Agreement from 2000, expected between 2015 and 2020)
• New Caledonia independence referendum (expected after 2014)
• Scotland independence referendum (expected to possibly happen in 2010) (See Scottish referendum bill 2010)

[edit] Plausible future referendums

• Catalonia - Catalonia's Vice President Carod-Rovira proposed a referendum around 2014. Several Catalan independentist groups also promote a referendum in 2014 or even earlier. Since Spain forbids an independence referendum, many mayors and city councilors also promote a non-binding referendum, to be done in each of their respective municipalities^[2][3][4]. This consultative referendum about Catalonia's independence is expected in Spring 2010. The municipality of Arenys de Munt has been the first one to vote "Do you agree on Catalonia becoming an independent, democratic and social State of law, integrated in the European Union?" in a query on Catalonia independence on September 13 2009. 96% of people in Arenys de Munt (2569 people) voted YES. The participation was 41%.
• Quebec - Given the results of the 2007 Quebec election, the likelihood of another referendum in Quebec has diminished. The sovereignist Parti Québécois finished third behind a federalist party and an autonomist party. However, the Parti Québécois gained several seats during 2008 Quebec election.
• Western Sahara independence referendum (proposed by Baker Plan)
• Republika Srpska - The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik brought the idea of an independence referendum for RS into public debate when Montenegro seceded from the union with Serbia in an independence referendum on May 21, 2006. In an interview published in the Serbian media, Dodik said a referendum on independence for RS was a fair solution and that 99 percent of Bosnian Serbs support secession from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dodik stated that this referendum is "inevitable" since Bosnia and Herzegovina has no viable future.^[5]
• Ambazonia - With the ruling by the African Charter for Human and Peoples Rights in 2009, Southern Cameroons is recognized as a distinct people "automatically entitled to all the other rights which are built into Article 20 (1-2) of the African Charter, which include the inalienable and unquestionable right to self-determination"^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Civic nationalism
• Independence
• Sovereignty
• Succession of states