Secession

Secession is the withdrawal of a political unit from a larger state or union. It can occur through agreement, unilateral declaration, or armed conflict.

Self-determination: The principle that peoples may choose their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. Movements for secession often invoke this principle to justify independent political status.
American Civil War: The 1861–1865 war between the United States and the Confederacy formed by seceding Southern states. It followed declarations of secession and ended with the Union preserved by force.
Devolution: The transfer of powers from a central government to regional or local authorities. Unlike secession, devolution leaves the region within the same sovereign state.
Citizenship: The legal membership of a person in a political community, carrying rights and duties. A new state's formation raises questions about who becomes its citizen and what happens to existing citizenship.
Territorial integrity: The norm that states should not have their territory altered by force or external interference. It grounds the opposing claim that existing borders should remain intact.
Norwegian independence: The peaceful dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, followed by Norway's independence. It is a prominent example of separation achieved through negotiation and popular approval.
Federalism: A system of government that constitutionally divides authority between a central government and constituent units. Federal arrangements can address regional demands without dissolving the state.
Border: A boundary separating the territory or jurisdiction of one political entity from another. Secession requires decisions about the location and administration of a new international boundary.
State recognition: The acknowledgment by other states that a political entity qualifies as a state and can participate in international relations. A seceding entity may declare independence without gaining broad international recognition.
Bangladesh Liberation War: The 1971 conflict that led East Pakistan to become the independent state of Bangladesh. It shows how an independence movement can become a successful secession through armed conflict.

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