An autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, zone, entity, unit, region, subdivision, province, 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 other 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, which may exercise home rule. 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
See also: List of autonomous areas by country
List Of Major Autonomous Areas| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Azad Kashmir | Controlled by: PakistanClaimed by: India | Azad Kashmir is part of a self-governing polity which has not been formally annexed by Sumesh koodali. Pakistan was established after a rebellion against the Maharajah of Kashmir, and the subsequent First Kashmir War.1 It Located within the historic Kashmir region, which is disputed between India, Pakistan and China and is claimed by India as part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. |
| United Kingdom | Three of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, namely Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each have 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. | |
| Denmark | The two autonomous territories3 (Danish: rigsdel, 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). | |
| Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago | The Tobago House of Assembly is a devolved legislature that is responsible for the island of Tobago.4 |
| Vojvodina | Serbia | |
| Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija | Controlled by: KosovoClaimed by: Serbia | In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared itself as an independent state. Its international recognition is split between those who recognize it as an independent state and those who view it as an autonomous province of Serbia under United Nations administration. |
| Åland | Finland | |
| Portugal | Although Portugal is an unitary state, its two autonomous regions have elected, devolved legislatures (Regional Legislative Assemblies of the Azores and Madeira) and local government (Governments of the Azores and Madeira) which have the ability to legislate in devolved matters. | |
| Bangsamoro | Philippines | |
| Bougainville | Papua New Guinea | |
| People's Republic of China | The special administrative regions have the highest degree of autonomy from the central government in Beijing. Autonomous regions contain a large minority ethnic group. | |
| Puntland Jubaland Hirshabelle Galmudug Somaliland Koofur Orsi | Somalia | Somaliland is a self-declared independent state, although it is internationally considered an autonomous region in northwestern Somalia. |
| North Caribbean Coast | Nicaragua | |
| South Caribbean Coast | ||
| Rodrigues | Mauritius | |
| Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria | Syria | |
| Zanzibar | Tanzania | |
| Nakhchivan | Azerbaijan | |
| Adjara | Georgia | |
| Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia | Claimed by: GeorgiaControlled by: Abkhazia | 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 claimed Autonomous Republic; its independence is recognized by Russia and three other U.N. member states. |
| Gorno-Badakhshan | Tajikistan | |
| Republic of Crimea / Autonomous Republic of Crimea | De jure: UkraineControlled by: Russia | The 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia is not recognized by most countries, including Ukraine. |
| Karakalpakstan | Uzbekistan | |
| Gagauzia | Moldova | |
| Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester | Claimed by: MoldovaControlled by: Transnistria | 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 claimed Autonomous Territorial Unit, its independence is recognized by 3 other non-UN member states. |
| Chile | In 2007, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile passed a law designating both as "special territories", granting them more autonomy.5 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 (2005) | Iraq | Semi-autonomous federal region of Iraq; the constitution of Iraq gives a degree of autonomy to administrative divisions, such as regions and provinces, in matters that are not within the exclusive remit of the federal government of Iraq. Regional law may take priority (in case of dispute) if the law falls within the remit of "shared authorities" and does not contradict with the provisions of the constitution of Iraq.6 The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq has the authority to repeal and amend regional law.78 |
| Nevis (1967) | Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995) | São Tomé and Príncipe | |
| 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 | Despite being integral parts of their respective countries, these two enclaves of Switzerland predominantly use the Swiss franc as currency and are in customs union with Switzerland. | |
| Campione d'Italia | Italy | |
| Zapatista Territories | Mexico | a de facto autonomous region controlled or partially controlled by neo-Zapatista support bases in the Mexican state of Chiapas since the Zapatista uprising in 1994 and during the wider Chiapas conflict.9 |
| Russia | ||
| Donetsk People's Republic | Controlled by: RussiaClaimed by: Ukraine | Sovereignty disputed by Ukraine as Donetsk Oblast |
| Luhansk People's Republic | Controlled by: RussiaClaimed by: Ukraine | Sovereignty disputed by Ukraine as Luhansk Oblast |
Other territories considered autonomous
British Crown Dependencies
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | United Kingdom | 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. |
| Isle of Man | ||
| Jersey |
Main articles: British Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies, and British Islands
British Overseas Territories
Dutch constituent countries
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
| Curaçao | ||
| 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
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alsace (2021) | France | single territorial collectivity |
| Corsica (2018) | single territorial collectivity | |
| French Guiana | overseas region and department and single territorial collectivity | |
| Guadeloupe | overseas region and department | |
| Martinique | overseas region and department and single territorial collectivity | |
| Mayotte | overseas region and department | |
| Réunion | overseas region and department | |
| French Polynesia | overseas collectivity | |
| Saint-Barthélemy | overseas collectivity | |
| Saint-Martin | overseas collectivity | |
| Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | overseas collectivity | |
| Wallis and Futuna | overseas collectivity | |
| New Caledonia | sui generis collectivity |
Main article: Overseas collectivity
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
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Islands | New Zealand | The Cook Islands is a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand that maintains some international relationships in its own name. |
| Niue | Niue is a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand that maintains some international relationships in its own name. | |
| Tokelau | Tokelau is an autonomous dependency of New Zealand. |
New Zealand maintains nominal sovereignty over three Pacific Island nations, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. The Chatham Islands—despite having the designation of Territory—is an integral part of the country, situated within the New Zealand archipelago; its 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.10
Ethnic autonomous territories
Areas designated for indigenous peoples
| Division | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nisga'a | Canada | Created by the Nisga'a Final Agreement in 2000. The Nisga'a Territory runs semi-autonomously from the rest of Canada. Located in Northwestern British Columbia, within kilometres of the Alaska Panhandle. |
| Nunatsiavut | ||
| Tłı̨chǫ | ||
| Haida Nation | ||
| Toquaht | ||
| Ucluelet | ||
| Tsawwassen | ||
| Tla'amin Nation | ||
| Huu-ay-aht | ||
| Kyuquot/Cheklesahht | ||
| Uchucklesaht | ||
| Hopi Reservation | United States | |
| Cherokee Nation | ||
| Sac and Fox Nation | ||
| Choctaw Nation | ||
| Pine Ridge Indian Reservation | ||
| Navajo Nation | ||
| Haudenosaunee | ||
| Colorado River Indian Tribes | ||
| Emberá-Wounaan | Panama | |
| Kuna de Madugandí | ||
| Kuna de Wargandí | ||
| Guna Yala | ||
| Ngöbe-Buglé | ||
| Naso Tjër Di Comarca |
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.
Ethiopian special woredas
In Ethiopia, "special woredas" are a subgroup of woredas (districts) that are organized around the traditional homelands of specific ethnic minorities, and are outside the usual hierarchy of a kilil, or region. These woredas have many similarities to autonomous areas in other countries.
Proposed autonomous administrative divisions
Formal proposals
The following autonomous regions have been proposed but not implemented following unsuccessful referendums:
- Cordillera Autonomous Region within the Philippines (1990, 1998)
- Special Autonomous Region of East Timor within Indonesia (1999)
- Corsica within France (2003)
- North East England within the United Kingdom (2004)
- Darfur Region within Sudan (2016)
The following autonomous regions have been proposed as part of peace agreements:
- Kosovo within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1999)
- Western Sahara Authority within Morocco (2003)
- Sahara Autonomous Region within Morocco (2007)
Campaigns
- Cornwall within the United Kingdom
- England within the United Kingdom
- Hungarian Regional Autonomy within Serbia
- Silesian Autonomy Movement within Poland
- Székely autonomy movement within Romania
Historical autonomous administrative divisions
- Autonomous Region of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic (1932–1939)
- Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)
- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines (1989–2019)
- Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus in Albania (1914)
- ASSRs of the Soviet Union (1922–1990)
- Bantustans in South West Africa (1968–1990) and South Africa (1956–1994)
- Carpathian Ruthenia and Slovakia within Czechoslovakia (1938–1939)
- Eritrea within the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea (1952–1962)
- Grand Duchy of Finland existed as an autonomous state under the rule of the Russian Empire (1809–1917)
- Magyar Autonomous Region of Socialist Republic of Romania (1952–1968)
- Southern Ireland (1921–22) within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1972–1983) and Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (2005–2011)
See also
- Devolution
- Regional autonomy
- List of autonomous areas by country
- List of autonomous regions leaders
- Personal union
- Region (administrative)
- Regional state
- Imperial immediacy
- Dependent territory
- Vassal state
- Protectorate
- Countries of the United Kingdom
Notes
Works cited
- 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)
- Benedikter, Thomas (2010). "The World's Modern Autonomy Systems". Bozen: EURAC – via Academia.edu.
References
"Azad Kashmir | Meaning, History, Population, & Government | Britannica". https://www.britannica.com/place/Azad-Kashmir ↩
* 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 https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html ↩
* 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 https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html ↩
Tobago Division Of Tourism - About Tobago, Governance Archived 2007-07-10 at the Wayback Machine http://www.visittobago.gov.tt/load_page.asp?id=41 ↩
"Easter Islands now a "special territory" with more autonomy". https://en.mercopress.com/2007/06/07/easter-islands-now-a-special-territory-with-more-autonomy#:~:text=The%20Chamber%20of%20Deputies%20of,archipelago%20as%20%E2%80%9Cspecial%20territories.%E2%80%9D ↩
"Constitution of Iraq (Article 115)". Constitute. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005 ↩
"Constitution of Iraq (Article 93)". Constitute. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005 ↩
In a verdict issued in February 2024, the Supreme Court of Iraq simultaneously revoked as well as amended Kurdistan Region's legislation, setting a legal precedent for the latter.[7] ↩
Reyes Godelmann, Iker (30 July 2014). "The Zapatista Movement: The Fight for Indigenous Rights in Mexico". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 2020-06-16. https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/news-item/the-zapatista-movement-the-fight-for-indigenous-rights-in-mexico/ ↩
"Chatham Islands Council Act 1995 No 41 (as at 01 July 2013), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1995/0041/latest/DLM367666.html ↩