User:Centralismo/sandbox/Autonomous administrative division
 | This article needs editing to comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style. (January 2021) |
An autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, entity, unit, region, subdivision, or territory) is a subnational administrative division or internal territory of a sovereign state that has a degree of autonomy — self-governance — under the national government. Autonomous areas are distinct from the constituent units of a federation (e.g. a state, or province) in that they possess unique powers for their given circumstances. Typically, it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the state or populated by a national minority. Decentralization of self-governing powers and functions to such divisions is a way for a national government to try to increase democratic participation or administrative efficiency or to defuse internal conflicts. States that include autonomous areas may be federacies, federations, or confederations. Autonomous areas can be divided into territorial autonomies, subregional territorial autonomies, and local autonomies.
List of major autonomous areas[edit]
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
 United Kingdom
|
Three of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, namely Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each has an elected, devolved legislature which has the ability to legislate in devolved matters. The Parliament of the United Kingdom which retains sovereignty (the United Kingdom is a unitary state), can dissolve the devolved legislatures at any time, and legislates in matters that are not devolved, as well as having the capacity to legislate in areas that are devolved (by constitutional convention, without the agreement of the devolved legislature). Formerly, both Scotland and England were fully sovereign states. |
 Kingdom of Denmark
|
The two autonomous countries[1] (Danish: land, Faroese: land, Greenlandic: nuna) of the realm of the Kingdom, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, each have an elected devolved legislature which has the ability to legislate in devolved matters. The Kingdom Parliament 'Folketinget' retains sovereignty (The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary state) and legislates in matters that are not devolved, as well as having the capacity to legislate in areas that are devolved (this does not normally occur without the agreement of the devolved legislature). | |
 (no official flag) Tobago
|
 Trinidad and Tobago
|
The Tobago House of Assembly is an autonomous legislature that is responsible for the island of Tobago.[2] |
 Jeju
|
 South Korea
|
|
 Vojvodina
|
 Serbia
| |
 Åland
|
 Finland
| |
 Azores
|
 Portugal
| |
 Bangsamoro
|
 Philippines
| |
 Bougainville
|
 Papua New Guinea
| |
 Hong Kong Macau
|
 People's Republic of China
| |
|
|
 Somalia
|
Somaliland is a self-declared state, It is internationally considered an autonomous region independent in northwestern Somalia. |
 Madeira
|
Portugal
| |
 Atlántico Norte
|
 Nicaragua
| |
 Atlántico Sur
| ||
 Rodrigues
|
 Mauritius
| |
 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
|
 Syria
| |
 Zanzibar
|
 Tanzania
| |
 Nakhchivan
|
Azerbaijan
| |
 Adjara
|
 Georgia
| |
 Abkhazia
|
Claimed by: Georgia Controlled by: |
In 1999, the Republic of Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia after the 1992–1993 war. Georgia and most of the U.N. member states have not recognized Abkhazia's independence and still has an administrative apparatus for the Autonomous Republic; its independence is recognized by Russia and three other U.N. member states. |
 Autonomous Republic of Badakhshan
|
 Tajikistan
| |
 Crimea
|
Claimed by: UkraineControlled by: | |
 Karakalpakstan
|
 Uzbekistan
| |
 Gagauzia
|
 Moldova
|
|
 Transnistria / Left Bank of the Dniester
|
Claimed by: Moldova Controlled by: |
In 1990, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR, commonly known as Transnistria) declared its independence from the Soviet Union. While Moldova has not formally recognized Transnistria's independence and still has an administrative apparatus for the Autonomous Province, its independence is recognized by 3 other non-UN member states. |
|
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
| |
 Chile
|
In 2007, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile passed a law designating both as "special territories", granting them more autonomy.[3] Additionally, the Juan Fernandez Islands archipelago is a commune, while Easter Island is both a commune and a province. | |
 Barbuda (1976)
|
 Antigua and Barbuda
| |
 Rotuma
|
 Fiji
| |
 Kurdistan Region (1992)
|
 Iraq
| |
 Nevis (1967)
|
 Saint Kitts and Nevis
| |
 Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995)
|
 São Tomé and Príncipe
| |
 Kosovo
|
Claimed by: Serbia Controlled by: |
Serbia also claims Kosovo as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. |
 Svalbard
|
Norway
|
Although it does not fit the definition of autonomous area (not possessing partial internal sovereignty), Svalbard has the sovereignty of Norway limited by the Spitsbergen Treaty of 1920 and therefore is considered as having special status (as it is considered fully integrated with Norway, and not a dependency, it is a sui generis case). |
 Heligoland
|
 Germany
|
Heligoland, Germany: Although it is part of a German state, Schleswig-Holstein, it has been excluded of some European Union normatives, such as customs union and the Value Added Tax Area. |
 Büsingen am Hochrhein
|
Germany
|
Despite being integral parts of their respective countries, these two enclaves of Switzerland predominantly use Swiss franc as currency and are in customs union with it. |
| Campione d'Italia
|
 Italy
|
Despite being integral parts of their respective countries, these two enclaves of Switzerland predominantly use Swiss franc as currency and are in customs union with it. |
Other territories considered autonomous[edit]
Crown dependencies[edit]
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Guernsey
|
United Kingdom
|
|
 Isle of Man
|
United Kingdom
|
|
 Jersey
|
United Kingdom
|
|
 Gibraltar
|
United Kingdom
|
British Overseas Territories[edit]
Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Jersey are self-governing Crown dependencies which are not part of the United Kingdom; however, the UK is responsible for their defence and international affairs. Gibraltar is a self-governing overseas territory of the UK. Most of the other 13 British Overseas Territories also have autonomy in internal affairs through local legislatures.
Dutch constituent countries[edit]
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Aruba
|
 Netherlands
|
|
 Curaçao
|
Netherlands
|
|
 Sint Maarten
|
Netherlands
|
Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, each with their own parliament. In addition they enjoy autonomy in taxation matters as well as having their own currencies.
French overseas collectivities, New Caledonia, and Corsica[edit]
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Alsace (2021)
|
 France
|
single territorial collectivity |
 Corsica (2018)
|
France
|
single territorial collectivity |
| French Guiana
|
France
|
|
| Guadeloupe
|
France
|
|
| Martinique
|
France
|
|
| Mayotte
|
France
|
|
| Réunion
|
France
|
|
| Clipperton Island
|
France
|
|
 French Polynesia
|
France
|
|
| Saint-Barthélemy
|
France
|
|
| Saint-Martin
|
France
|
|
| Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
|
France
|
|
| Wallis and Futuna
|
France
|
|
 New Caledonia
|
France
|
|
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands
|
France
|
The French Constitution recognises three autonomous jurisdictions. Corsica, a region of France, enjoys a greater degree of autonomy on matters such as tax and education compared to mainland regions. New Caledonia, a sui generis collectivity, and French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity, are highly autonomous territories with their own government, legislature, currency and constitution. They do not, however, have legislative powers for policy areas relating to law and order, defense, border control or university education. Other smaller overseas collectivities have a lesser degree of autonomy through local legislatures. The five overseas regions, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion, are generally governed the same as mainland regions; however, they enjoy some additional powers, including certain legislative powers for devolved areas.
New Zealand overseas territories[edit]
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Cook Islands
|
 New Zealand
|
|
 Niue
|
New Zealand
|
|
 Tokelau
|
New Zealand
|
|
 Chatham Islands
|
New Zealand
|
New Zealand maintains nominal sovereignty over three Pacific Island nations. The Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing countries in free association with New Zealand that maintain some international relationships in their own name. Tokelau remains an autonomous dependency of New Zealand. The Chatham Islands—despite having the designation of Territory—is an integral part of the country, situated within the New Zealand archipelago. The territory's council is not autonomous and has broadly the same powers as other local councils, although notably it can also charge levies on goods entering or leaving the islands.[4]
Ethnic autonomous territories[edit]
Ethiopian special woredas[edit]
In Ethiopia, "special woredas" are a subgroup of woredas (districts) that are organized around the traditional homelands of an ethnic minority, and are outside the usual hierarchy of a kilil, or region. These woredas have many similarities to autonomous areas in other countries.
Areas designated for indigenous peoples[edit]
Other areas that are autonomous in nature but not in name are areas designated for indigenous peoples, such as those of the Americas:
- Aboriginal (First Nation or Native American or Indian) Indian reserve and Indian reservation, in, respectively, Canada and the United States.[discuss]
- the five comarcas indígenas ("indigenous regions") of Panama.
List of historical autonomous administrative divisions[edit]
 |
- Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines (1989–2019)
- Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus in Albania (1914).
- Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union (1922–1990)
- Subcarpathian Rus and Slovakia within Czechoslovakia (1938–1939).
- Grand Duchy of Finland of the Russian Empire.
- Magyar Autonomous Region of Socialist Republic of Romania (1952–1968)
- Southern Ireland (1921–22) and Northern Ireland (1921–72) within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
See also[edit]
- Devolution
- List of autonomous areas by country
- List of autonomous regions leaders
- Personal union
- Region (administrative)
References[edit]
- ^ a b * Benedikter, Thomas (2006-06-19). "The working autonomies in Europe". Society for Threatened Peoples. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories
- Ackrén, Maria (November 2017). "Greenland". Autonomy Arrangements in the World. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self-governing territories belonging to Denmark.
- "Greenland". International Cooperation and Development. European Commission. 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
Greenland [...] is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark
- "Facts about the Faroe Islands". Nordic cooperation. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
The Faroe Islands [...] is one of three autonomous territories in the Nordic Region
- Ackrén, Maria (November 2017). "Greenland". Autonomy Arrangements in the World. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ Tobago Division Of Tourism - About Tobago, Governance Archived 2007-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Easter Islands now a "special territory" with more autonomy".
- ^ "Chatham Islands Council Act 1995 No 41 (as at 01 July 2013), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz.
Works cited[edit]
- M. Weller and S. Wolff (eds), Autonomy, Self-governance and Conflict Resolution: Innovative Approaches to Institutional Design in Divided Societies. Abingdon, Routledge, 2005
- From Conflict to Autonomy in Nicaragua: Lessons Learnt[permanent dead link], report by Minority Rights Group International
- P.M. Olausson, Autonomy and Islands, A Global Study of the Factors that determine Island Autonomy. Åbo: Åbo Akademi University Press, 2007.
- Thomas Benedikter (ed.), Solving Ethnic Conflict through Self-Government - A Short Guide to Autonomy in Europe and South Asia, EURAC Bozen 2009,
- Thomas Benedikter, 100 Years of Modern Territorial Autonomy - Autonomy around the World, Berlin/Zürich, LIT 2021, ISBN 978-3-643-91401-9 (pb)
- Thomas Benedikter, The World's Modern Autonomy Systems, EURAC Bozen 2010; https://www.academia.edu/44170136/The_Worlds_Modern_Autonomy_Systems