Top 10 Places Fighting for Independence
#10 – Basque Country
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Where is it: along the border of France and Spain, in and around the Pyrenees Mountains. Who wants to separate: the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), and Basque Homeland and Liberty (ETA). Separatists say: We’re Europe’s oldest surviving people, with a language just as ancient. Our food and festivals rock. We wanna do our own thing. Spain/France say: We’re willing to negotiate. Key events: Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, the bombing of Guernica, ETA terrorism. Status: After killing over 800 people, ETA claims to be done with violence. The Basque Nationalist Party shut down its French branch, but gained a new one in Spain.
#9 – Flanders
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Where is it: the northwestern part of Belgium. Who wants to separate: The Flemish Movement, with parties like the New Flemish Alliance (NVA). Separatists say: We’re rich, we’re Dutch and we’re tired of supporting the poor Frenchmen in Wallonia – especially with the economy in the toilet. But we’ll always work within the system. Belgium says: Separation is too expensive. Key events: Eurozone crisis, the leader of the NVA elected mayor of Antwerp. Status: While public opinion favors increased autonomy over independence, NVA has gained support in recent years and will likely push for full separation eventually.
#8 – Tibet
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Where is it: to the northeast of the Himalayas, in China. Who wants to separate: Tibetans and the Dalai Lama. Separatists say: China, you colonized and suppressed us. Stop killing us and let us at least live autonomously. The Dalai Lama has been exiled long enough! Free Tibet or we’ll set ourselves on fire. Seriously. China says: Okay, there may have been some human rights abuses, but we didn’t kill anyone, and we’ve had sovereignty over that region for hundreds of years. Key events: 17 Point Agreement, the Dalai Lama’s exile to India, a wave of self-immolations. Status: Visibility has increased, but overall not much has changed. Recently, Tibetans have shifted focus from demanding full independence to more autonomy within the Chinese system.
#7 – Quebec
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Where is it: east-central Canada. Who wants to separate: the Parti Québécois and the Bloc Québécois. Separatists say: Canada has held us back long enough; we must become our own socialist country to protect French language and culture. Also, we were here first. Canada says: We beat you at the Plains of Abraham, we’ve recognized you as a “distinct people,” so stop complaining or get out. Key events: Charles de Gaulle, the October Crisis, unsuccessful referendums on sovereignty in 1980 and ’95. Status: Quebec’s sovereignty movement has lost momentum, but the province retains significant regional autonomy and the two solitudes of English and French remain.
#6 – Kosovo
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Where is it: southeastern Europe, formerly part of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Who wants to separate: the ethnic Albanian population, the Kosovo Liberation Army. Separatists say: We are so poor. But we are independent. Serbia and Russia: why don’t you want us to get a United Nations seat? Serbia says: We reject you as a sovereign state, and we don’t care what anyone else says. Key events: Disintegration of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic strips Kosovo of its independence, oppression and ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians, Kosovo War, independence in ’08. Status: The United States and many important EU countries recognize Kosovo as a state, and the number continues to rise.
#5 – South Ossetia and Abkhazia
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Where is it: the northern part of Georgia, in a region known as South Caucasus. Who wants to separate: Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia. Separatists say: When the Soviet Union fell apart, we claimed independence. Russia says we’re independent: why can’t you, Georgia? Georgia says: We said no: we’ve had wars to keep you in line; only a few countries actually recognize you as independent, so as far as we’re concerned, you’re still part of us. Key events: Breakup of the USSR, the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, the War in Abkhazia, the Russia-Georgia war of 2008. Status: The United Nations and most states worldwide still do not recognize South Ossetia or Abkhazia as independent states, and they are both technically still part of Georgia.
#4 – Palestinian Territories
Where is it: the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Who wants to separate: the Israeli government, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Quartet on the Middle East, the Arab League, Fatah, Hamas. Separatists say: We want our home back. We know you’re not claiming sovereignty over us or anything, but c’mon. Israel/Jews say: This is the Holy Land: we’ve been occupying the area since 1967. We have no problem giving you what you want, as long as it coincides with what we want. Key events: Palestinian Exodus, founding of Israel, Six Day War, Oslo Accords. Status: The violence continues. No one can agree to the terms of the two-state solution. In 2012, the UN recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state, but the U.S. and Israel opposed it.
#3 – Kurdistan
Where is it: parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Who wants to separate: the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Separatists say: We’re the world’s largest ethnic group without a place to call our own. Semi-autonomy isn’t good enough for us, Iraq. Turkey/Iran/Iraq/Syria say: Good luck with that (to varying degrees). Key events: Treaty of Sèvres, reneged autonomy of the 1970s, PKK terrorism, the Iran-Iraq War, Saddam Hussein’s genocide of Kurdish people, Arab/Kurdish Spring. Status: Iraqi Kurds have been autonomous since the early-‘90s, and the region has remained stable. Those in Iran and Turkey are allowed to speak their native tongue today, but the Kurdish language is banned in Syria; however, Syrian Kurds have essentially been left to govern themselves in the wake of the Syrian Civil War.
#2 – Catalonia
Where is it: northeastern Spain. Who wants to separate: Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), Convergence and Union (CiU), and Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV). Separatists say: We’re rich, so stop making us prop up the rest of Spain while they go through a financial crisis. We’re barely Spanish anyway. Spain says: No deal: you separate, and you’re out of the European Union and you’ll have tons of debt. Seriously, watch it or we’ll send tanks. Key events: Suppression by Miguel Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco, economic crisis, pro-independence parties win majority government. Status: A recent surge in nationalist support means a referendum is scheduled for 2014. If regional election results and popular votes on the subject are accurate, the population is supportive.
#1 – Scotland
Where is it: northern part of the island of Great Britain. Who wants to separate: the Scottish National Party. Separatists say: We used to be our own country, and now that we’ve got all this North Sea oil money we want it for ourselves. Over 300 years in the United Kingdom is long enough; we want out. United Kingdom says: We’re better together, but hold your referendum if you must. Key events: Wars of Independence, Acts of Union, It’s Scotland’s Oil, reconvened Scottish Parliament. Status: Other European Union countries that are hoping to secede are watching what happens at the 2014 Scottish referendum on independence. Do you agree with our list? Which separatist movements around the world do you think are most likely to succeed? For more informative top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
