Why some regions govern themselves while remaining part of a larger sovereign state

Nature · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: An autonomous administrative division is a subnational territory granted unique self-governing powers by a sovereign state. Whether to preserve a national minority's culture, improve administrative efficiency, or defuse internal conflict, these zones operate with varying degrees of independence, from local legislative control to their own currencies and constitutions.

Autonomous divisions are distinct from standard federal units because they possess powers tailored to their specific circumstances. These areas are often geographically isolated or home to distinct national minorities. By decentralizing functions, national governments aim to foster democratic participation or manage complex political tensions. These arrangements can exist within federations, confederations, or federacies, and are categorized into territorial, subregional, or local autonomies.

The scope of autonomy varies significantly. For example, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten function as autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, maintaining their own parliaments, tax systems, and currencies. In France, the Constitution recognizes three autonomous jurisdictions, including Corsica and New Caledonia. While New Caledonia enjoys its own government and legislature, it still lacks authority over defense, border control, and university education. Conversely, some areas are autonomous in practice rather than name, such as indigenous reserves in North America or the special woredas in Ethiopia, which are organized around the traditional homelands of ethnic minorities.

The path to autonomy is rarely straightforward. Many proposals fail at the ballot box, such as the Cordillera Autonomous Region in the Philippines, which saw unsuccessful referendums in 1990 and 1998. Others require multiple attempts; both Scotland and Wales rejected autonomy in 1979 before successfully approving it in 1997. Additionally, autonomy is often a tool for peace, proposed in agreements like the 1999 Kosovo plan or the 2007 Sahara Autonomous Region proposal in Morocco. History shows these entities are fluid, with many rising and falling over time, from the Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire to the more recent Kokang Self-Administered Zone in Myanmar.

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