Independence referendum

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.

Former successful independence referendums

1905

• Norwegian union dissolution referendum, 1905

1933

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

1944

• Icelandic constitutional referendum, 1944 - led to independence from Denmark on 17 June 1944

1946

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

1958

• In the referendum on September 28, 1958, Guinea opted for immediate independence from France, and the independence was proclaimed on October 2, 1958.

1990

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

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.

1992

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

1993

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

1994

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

1999

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

2005

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

2006

• Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006, a successful independence referendum that reestablished the 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.

2009

• Tamil Eelam: referendums have been held within Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora communities in Norway, France, Canada, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. There was overwhelming support.
• Padania: A simulation referendum was held, in which 45% favored independence.

2011

• Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011, held in January. 98.83% voted in favour of independence.

Former unsuccessful independence referendums

• 1967, 1993, 1998 Puerto Rico status referendums, unsuccessful.
• Quebec independence referendum, 1980, unsuccessful.
• Montenegrin independence referendum, 1992, unsuccessful.
• Quebec independence referendum, 1995, unsuccessful.
• Bermudan independence referendum, 1995, unsuccessful.
• Nevis independence referendum, 1998, unsuccessful.
• West Papuan independence referendum, 1969, unsuccessful, flawed.

Expected independence referendums

• Bougainville independence referendum (envisioned by Peace Agreement from 2000 to be held between 2015 and 2020)
• New Caledonia independence referendum (expected between 2014 and 2019)
• Scottish independence referendum, 2014 to take place in Second half of Parliamentary term in 2014.

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 and groups of the Catalan civil society also promoted a non-binding referendum, that took place in many municipalities.
• Quebec - Given the results of the 2008 Quebec election, the likelihood of another referendum in Quebec has remained stable. The sovereignist Parti Québécois finished second behind a federalist party, regaining official opposition status momentarily lost in the 2007 Quebec election.
• Western Sahara independence referendum (proposed by MINURSO)
• 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.
• 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"

• West Papua - As the result of a dispute between the Netherlands and Indonesia over West Papua, the New York Agreement was signed in 1962, making the territory a UN trusteeship and setting up a status referendum. In 1969 that referendum was held, but only 1025 hand-picked men were allowed to vote and the result has since been called into question; Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a number of Western parliamentarians have called for the United Nations to look into the matter and possibly hold a re-vote.

See also

• Civic nationalism
• Independence
• Sovereignty
• Succession of states