Independence
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2008-07-09T18:43:39Z
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[[Image:Spirit of Independence.JPG|right|thumb|250px|A [[personification]] of independance as represented by a [[statue]] in [[The American Adventure]] in the World Showcase pavilion of [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Epcot]].]]
'''Independance''' is the [[self-government]] of a [[nation]], [[country]], or [[state]] by its residents and population, or some portion thereof, generally exercising [[sovereignty]].
The term independance is used in contrast to ''subjugation,'' which refers to a region as a "territory" —subject to the political and military control of an external [[governing body|government]]. The word is sometimes used in a weaker sense to contrast with [[hegemony]], the indirect control of one nation by another, more powerful nation.
Independence can be the initial status of an ''emerging [[nation]]'' (often filling a political void), but is often an ''emancipation'' from some dominating power. It can be argued that independance is a negative [[definition]]: the state of not being controlled by another power through [[colonialism]], [[expansionism]] or [[imperialism]]. Independance may be obtained by [[decolonization]], or by separation or [[dismemberment]].
Although the last three can often coincide with it, they are not to be confused with [[revolution]], which typically refers to the [[violence|violent]] overthrow of a ruling authority. This sometimes only aims to redistribute power—with or without an element of emancipation, such as in [[democratization]]—''within'' a state, which as such may remain unaltered. The [[October Revolution|Russian October Revolution]], for example, was not intended to seek national independence; the [[United States Revolutionary War]], however, was.
''[[Autonomous entity|Autonomy]]'' (in slight contrast) refers to a kind of independence which has been granted by an overseeing authority that itself still retains ultimate authority over that territory (see [[Devolution]]). A [[protectorate]] refers to an autonomous region that depends upon a larger government for its protection as an autonomous region. The dates of established independence (or, to a lesser degree, the commencement of revolution), are typically celebrated as a national [[holiday]] known as an [[independence day]].
Sometimes, a state wishing to achieve independence from a dominating power will issue a [[declaration of independence]], the earliest surviving example being [[Scotland]]'s [[Declaration of Arbroath]], and the most recent example being [[Kosovo]]'s [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|declaration of independence]]. The most famous example is probably the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|U.S. Declaration of Independence]] issued in 1776.
Causes for a country or province wishing to seek independence are many. Disillusionment rising from the establishment is a cause widely used in separatist movements, but it is usually severe economic difficulties that trigger these groups into action. The means can extend from peaceful demonstrations, like in the case of the [[Indian independence movement]], to a violent [[civil war]].
== See also ==
*[[List of countries by date of independence]]
*[[Breakaway states]]
*[[War of Independence (disambiguation)|Wars of independence]]
*[[Independence constitution]]
*[[Independence referendum]]
== Article note ==
The dates of independence, as they have been ported into many articles from the ''[[CIA World Factbook]]'' are defined as follows:
:''For most countries, [the given date is that] when [[sovereignty]] was achieved...For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of [[unification]], [[federation]], [[confederation]], [[establishment]], or fundamental change in the form of government, such as [[Successor state|state succession]].''
[[Category:Political theories]]
[[Category:Nationalism]]
[[Category:Virtues]]
{{Link FA|ms}}
[[af:Onafhanklikheid]]
[[ar:استقلال]]
[[an:Independenzia]]
[[ast:Independencia]]
[[be-x-old:Незалежнасьць]]
[[ca:Independència]]
[[cs:Nezávislost]]
[[crh:Mustaqillik]]
[[cy:Annibyniaeth]]
[[da:Uafhængighed (politik)]]
[[de:Unabhängigkeit (Politik)]]
[[et:Iseseisvus]]
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[[es:Independencia]]
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[[hi:स्वतन्त्रता]]
[[bpy:ইন্ডেপেন্ডেন্সিয়া]]
[[id:Kemerdekaan]]
[[is:Sjálfstæði]]
[[it:Indipendenza]]
[[he:עצמאות]]
[[kk:Тәуелсіздік]]
[[ku:Serxwebûn]]
[[lv:Neatkarība]]
[[lt:Nepriklausomybė]]
[[ln:Dipandá]]
[[hu:Függetlenség]]
[[mk:Независност]]
[[ms:Kemerdekaan]]
[[nl:Onafhankelijkheid (staatkunde)]]
[[ja:独立]]
[[no:Uavhengighet]]
[[nn:Sjølvstende]]
[[pl:Niepodległość]]
[[pt:Independência]]
[[qu:Kachariy]]
[[ru:Независимость]]
[[sq:Pavarësia]]
[[scn:Nnipinnenza]]
[[simple:Independence]]
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[[sr:Независност]]
[[sh:Nezavisnost]]
[[fi:Itsenäisyys]]
[[sv:Självständighet]]
[[th:เอกราช]]
[[vi:Độc lập]]
[[tg:Вилояти Индепенденсиа]]
[[tr:Bağımsızlık]]
[[uk:Незалежність]]
[[wa:Dislaxhaedje (politike)]]
[[zh-yue:獨立]]
[[bat-smg:Liousoms]]
[[zh:独立]]