Independence

:For other uses, see Independence (disambiguation)

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Independence is fully autonomous self-government of a nation or state by its residents and population, generally exercising sovereignty.

Related Topics:
Autonomous - Nation - State - Sovereignty

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The term independence is used in contrast to subjugation, which refers to a region as a "territory" —subject to the political and military control of an external 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.

Related Topics:
Subjugation - Government - Hegemony

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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 independence is a negative definition: the state of not being controlled by another power through colonialism or imperialism. Independence may be obtained by decolonization, or by separation or dismemberment.

Related Topics:
Nation - Negative definition - Colonialism - Imperialism - Decolonization - Dismemberment

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Although the last three can often coincide with it, they are not to be confused with revolution, which typically refers to the 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 Russian October Revolution, for example, was not intended to seek national independence; the United States Revolutionary War, however, was.

Related Topics:
Revolution - Violent - Democratization - Russian October Revolution - United States Revolutionary War

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Autonomy (in slight contrast) refers to a kind of independence which has been granted by a overseeing authority that itself still retains ultimate authority over that territory. 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.

Related Topics:
Autonomy - Protectorate - Holiday - Independence day

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Sometimes, a state wishing to achieve independence from a dominating power will issue a declaration of independence, the most famous of which is the U.S. Declaration of Independence issued in 1776.

Related Topics:
Declaration of independence - U.S. Declaration of Independence - 1776

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