Referenda: The Key Factor for Successful Self-Determination Movements

This political science senior thesis investigates the research question: What explains the potential success or failure of self-determination movements? This question is answered by analyzing thirty modern cases of... [ view full abstract ]

This political science senior thesis investigates the research question: What explains the potential success or failure of self-determination movements? This question is answered by analyzing thirty modern cases of self-determination movements, including Scotland, Catalonia, and Kurdistan. After exploring whether the success of self-determination movements is determined by: democratic methods, nonviolent methods, cultural difference of the region, economic stability, international legislation, or other self-determination movements within the same state, this study found that a self-determination movement is more likely to succeed if it employs an independence referendum. Therefore, future self-determination movements should prioritize holding an independence referendum over any other strategy included in this study. Finally, this thesis project looks at a case study of the Scottish independence movement, exploring how the general findings of this research can be applied to the specific example of Scotland.