There are a few notable instances where countries or regions rejected independence or chose to remain part of a larger entity. Here are some examples:
- Quebec (Canada):
- In 1980 and 1995, Quebec held referendums on whether to declare independence from Canada. Both times, the majority of voters chose to remain part of Canada, with the 1995 referendum being especially close (50.6% voted against independence).
- Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada):
- Before becoming a Canadian province in 1949, Newfoundland was a separate British dominion. In a 1948 referendum, the people of Newfoundland chose to join Canada over remaining independent or reverting to British rule.
- Scotland (United Kingdom):
- In 2014, Scotland held a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. The majority (55.3%) voted to remain part of the UK, though there continues to be debate on the issue.
- Catalonia (Spain):
- Catalonia has held several independence referendums (notably in 2006 and 2017) despite the Spanish government declaring them illegal. In 2006, the regional parliament of Catalonia voted in favor of a new Statute of Autonomy that defined Catalonia as a nation but without declaring full independence.
- South Sudan (Sudan):
- Before South Sudan became independent in 2011, there were referendums and peace negotiations. In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, allowing South Sudan to hold a referendum on its future. However, before that agreement, some in South Sudan had expressed reluctance toward full independence due to the uncertainty and challenges of nation-building.
- Hawaii (United States):
- In the 1990s, the people of Hawaii were involved in a discussion about the possibility of restoring their sovereignty. While there has not been a widespread, official movement to secede from the U.S., some Native Hawaiians and groups have advocated for greater autonomy or independence, though many also prefer to remain a part of the U.S.
These examples show a mixture of regional and national contexts where the desire for independence was either rejected or deferred due to political, economic, or social factors.