Relevance: Mains: G.S paper II: International
Why in news?
- Across the world, various territories are agitating for independence — Bougainville, an island in the Pacific, Catalonia in Spain, Kurdistan in Iraq, Tibet in China. New countries are suddenly in high demand.
Important Facts
- There is no law barring regions from declaring independence.
- In June 1945, the right of “self-determination” was included in the UN charter. This means that a population has the right to decide how and by whom it wants to be governed.
- Kosovo in Serbia declared independence in 2008, and only a few other countries recognise it.
- According to 1933’s Montevideo Convention, a country-hopeful must have a defined territory, people, government, and the ability to form relationships with other countries.
How does a territory become a new country?
- A region’s quest for nationhood mainly depends on how many countries and international organisations recognise it as a country.
- The biggest sanction of nationhood is the United Nations recognising a territory as a country. UN recognition means a new country has access to the World Bank, the IMF, etc. Its currency is recognised, which allows it to trade.