This article is about subnational administrative divisions which enjoy some degree of autonomy under the national government. For external territories which enjoy a greater degree of autonomy from their parent state and function as de facto independent political entities, see Dependent territory.
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.
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.
The two autonomous territories[2] (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).
In 2008, Kosovounilaterally declared itself as an independent state. Its international recognition is split between those who recognize it as an independent state and those who recognize it as an autonomous province of Serbia under United Nations administration.
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.
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.
In 2007, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile passed a law designating both as "special territories", granting them more autonomy.[4] Additionally, the Juan Fernandez Islands archipelago is a commune, while Easter Island is both a commune and a province.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.[5]
Ethnic autonomous territories
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.
^"Azad Kashmir | Meaning, History, Population, & Government | Britannica".
^ ab* Benedikter, Thomas (2006-06-19). . 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). . 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
. 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
^Tobago Division Of Tourism - About Tobago, Governance 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
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, ISBN978-3-643-91401-9 (pb)
autonomous, administrative, division, this, article, about, subnational, administrative, divisions, which, enjoy, some, degree, autonomy, under, national, government, external, territories, which, enjoy, greater, degree, autonomy, from, their, parent, state, f. This article is about subnational administrative divisions which enjoy some degree of autonomy under the national government For external territories which enjoy a greater degree of autonomy from their parent state and function as de facto independent political entities see Dependent territory This article needs editing for compliance with Wikipedia s Manual of Style Please help improve it if you can January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Contents 1 List of major autonomous areas 2 Other territories considered autonomous 2 1 British Crown Dependencies 2 2 British Overseas Territories 2 3 Dutch constituent countries 2 4 French overseas collectivities New Caledonia and Corsica 2 5 New Zealand overseas territories 3 Ethnic autonomous territories 3 1 Ethiopian special woredas 3 2 Areas designated for indigenous peoples 4 List of historical autonomous administrative divisions 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Works citedList of major autonomous areas EditSee also List of autonomous areas by country Division State Notes Azad Kashmir Pakistan Azad Kashmir is a self governing polity which has not been formally annexed by Pakistan It was established after a rebellion against the Maharajah of Kashmir and the subsequent First Kashmir War 1 It is located within the historic Kashmir region which is disputed between India Pakistan and China Northern Ireland Scotland Wales 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 Faroe Islands Greenland 2 Kingdom of Denmark The two autonomous territories 2 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 Tobago Trinidad and Tobago The Tobago House of Assembly is a devolved legislature that is responsible for the island of Tobago 3 Jeju South Korea Vojvodina SerbiaKosovo Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija Claimed by SerbiaControlled by Kosovo 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 recognize it as an autonomous province of Serbia under United Nations administration Aland Finland Azores Madeira Portugal Bangsamoro Philippines Bougainville Papua New Guinea Hong Kong Macau People s Republic of China 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 Atlantico Norte Nicaragua Atlantico Sur Rodrigues Mauritius Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Syria Zanzibar Tanzania Nakhchivan Azerbaijan Adjara GeorgiaAbkhazia 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 Claimed by UkraineControlled by Russia The 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia is not recognized by most countries including Ukraine Karakalpakstan Uzbekistan Gagauzia MoldovaTransnistria 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 Republika Srpska Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Easter Island Juan Fernandez Islands Chile In 2007 the Chamber of Deputies of Chile passed a law designating both as special territories granting them more autonomy 4 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 1970 Iraq Nevis 1967 Saint Kitts and Nevis Autonomous Region of Principe 1995 Sao Tome and Principe 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 Busingen am Hochrhein Germany 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 ItalyOther territories considered autonomous EditBritish Crown Dependencies Edit Division State Notes Guernsey United Kingdom Isle of Man JerseyMain articles British Overseas Territories Crown Dependencies and British Islands 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 British Overseas Territories Edit Division State Notes Anguilla United Kingdom Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Turks and Caicos IslandsGibraltar 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 Kingdom of the Netherlands Curacao Sint Maarten NetherlandsAruba Curacao 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 single territorial collectivity French Guiana overseas collectivity Guadeloupe overseas region and department Martinique overseas region and department Mayotte overseas region and department Reunion overseas region and department French Polynesia overseas collectivity Saint Barthelemy overseas collectivity Saint Martin overseas collectivity Saint Pierre and Miquelon overseas collectivity Wallis and Futuna overseas collectivity New Caledonia sui generis collectivityMain 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 Reunion 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 TokelauNew 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 5 Ethnic autonomous territories EditEthiopian special woredas Edit 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 Areas designated for indigenous peoples Edit Division State Notes Nisga a Canada Nunatsiavut Tli chǫ Haida Nation Hopi Reservation United States Cherokee Nation Choctaw Nation Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Navajo NationEmbera Wounaan Panama Kuna de MadugandiKuna de Wargandi Kuna Yala Ngobe Bugle Naso Tjer Di ComarcaOther 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 indigenas indigenous regions of Panama List of historical autonomous administrative divisions EditThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2016 Autonomous region of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic 1932 1939 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 Bantustans in South West Africa 1968 1990 and South Africa 1956 1994 Carpathian Ruthenia 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 within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Southern Sudan Autonomous Region 1972 1983 and Southern Sudan Autonomous Region 2005 2011 See also EditDevolution List of autonomous areas by country Autonomous administrative divisions of the People s Republic of China Autonomous administrative divisions of India Autonomous administrative divisions of Russia Autonomous administrative divisions of Spain List of countries and inhabited areas List of autonomous regions leaders Personal union Region administrative Regional state Imperial immediacy Dependent territory Vassal state ProtectorateReferences Edit Azad Kashmir Meaning History Population amp Government Britannica 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 Ackren 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 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 Abo Abo 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 Zurich 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Autonomous administrative division amp oldid 1151035482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
