Editing Independence (section)

== Definition ==
Whether the attainment of independence is different from [[revolution]] has long been contested, and has often been debated over the question of violence as [[Legitimacy (family law)|legitimate]] means to achieving sovereignty.<ref>{{cite book|last=Benjamin|first=Walter|author-link=Walter Benjamin|title=Walter Benjamin: Selected Writings, Volume 1: 1913–1926|orig-year=1921|year=1996|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge |pages=236–252|no-pp=true|isbn=0-674-94585-9}}</ref> In general, revolutions aim only to redistribute power with or without an element of emancipation, such as in [[democratization]] ''within'' a state, which as such may remain unaltered. For example, the [[Mexican Revolution]] (1910) chiefly refers to a multi-factional conflict that eventually led to a [[Constitution of Mexico|new constitution]]; it has rarely been used to refer to the [[Mexican War of Independence|armed struggle]] (1821) against Spain. However, some [[war of independence|wars of independence]] have been described as revolutions, such as the ones in the [[American Revolutionary War|United States]] (1783) and [[Indonesian National Revolution|Indonesia]] (1949), while some revolutions that were specifically about a change in the political structure have resulted in breakaway states. [[Mongolia]] and [[Finland]], for example, gained their independence during the revolutions occurring in [[Xinhai Revolution|China]] (1911) and [[October Revolution|Russia]] (1917) respectively. Causes for a country or province wishing to seek independence are many, but most can be summed up as a feeling of inequality compared to the dominant power. The means can extend from intended peaceful demonstrations as in the case of [[Indian independence movement|India]] (1947), to a [[Wars of national liberation|violent war]] as in the case of [[Algerian War|Algeria]] (1962). In some cases, a country may also have declared independence, but may only be partially recognized by other countries; such as [[Kosovo]] (2008), whose independence [[Serbia]], from which Kosovo has seceded, has [[International recognition of Kosovo|not formally recognized]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kosovo MPs proclaim independence |publisher=BBC News |date=17 February 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7249034.stm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The world's newest state |newspaper=The Economist |date=21 February 2008|url= http://www.economist.com/node/10727947}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa-ks.net/en/politika/483/njohjet-ndrkombtare-t-republiks-s-kosovs/483|title=International recognitions of the Republic of Kosovo|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kosovo)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]|accessdate=6 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515153650/https://www.mfa-ks.net/en/politika/483/njohjet-ndrkombtare-t-republiks-s-kosovs/483|archive-date=15 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Distinction between independence and autonomy ===
{{Main|Autonomy}}
''[[Autonomous entity|Autonomy]]'' refers to a kind of independence which has been granted by an overseeing [[authority]] that itself still retains ultimate authority over that territory (see [[Devolution]]). A [[protectorate]] refers to an autonomous region that depends upon a larger government for its protection as an autonomous region.