Histories
Long-form histories and chapters, each with claim-level citations. Longest first.
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Scotland
History of the Scottish independence debate
How a kingdom that joined Great Britain in 1707 developed a home-rule and independence politics, gained a devolved Parliament, voted on independence in 2014 and returned to the question after Brexit.
1,821 words · 8 min read
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Quebec
History of the Quebec sovereignty movement
From Confederation and the Quiet Revolution to the referendums of 1980 and 1995, the Supreme Court’s secession reference, the Clarity Act and the 2026 election.
1,287 words · 6 min read
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Catalonia
History of Catalan self-government and the independence movement
From the medieval Corts and the Nueva Planta decree to restored autonomy, the 2006 Statute dispute, the 2014 and 2017 votes, and the court cases and amnesty that followed.
1,158 words · 6 min read
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Timor-Leste
History of Timor-Leste’s independence process
From Portuguese Timor and the 1975 declaration, through Indonesian invasion and rule, to the 1999 popular consultation, UN administration and independence in 2002.
968 words · 5 min read
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Bougainville
History of Bougainville’s independence movement and peace process
From secessionist politics in the late 1960s and the 1975 declaration, through the 1988–1997 conflict and the 2001 Peace Agreement, to autonomy, the 2019 referendum and the 2026 ratification debate.
948 words · 5 min read
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Greenland
History of Greenland’s self-government and independence debate
From colonisation in 1721 and integration in 1953 to home rule, self-government, the independence clause of 2009 and the pressures of 2025–2026.
841 words · 4 min read
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Western Sahara
History of the Western Sahara question
From Spanish colonial rule and the 1975 crisis, through war, the UN settlement plan and competing proposals, to renewed hostilities and negotiations in 2025–2026.
792 words · 4 min read
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Kurdistan Region of Iraq
History of Kurdish self-government and independence politics in Iraq
From the 1922 Kingdom of Kurdistan and Barzani’s revolts to self-rule in 1992, federal recognition in 2005 and the 2017 referendum.
544 words · 3 min read
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Kurdish self-determination
History of Kurdish self-determination projects
Kurdish political projects since the end of the Ottoman Empire: Sèvres and Lausanne, early declarations, and the diverging paths of Kurdish movements in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
488 words · 3 min read