Secession

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Secession is the unilateral withdrawal of an integral part of a state's territory. Secession generally aims to establish a separate political entity, typically a sovereign state, although it may instead seek accession to another existing state. Secession often begins with an act such as a declaration of independence, and may be pursued peacefully or through armed conflict. Scholars distinguish secession from related concepts such as separatism. Theories of secession differ over its causes, moral justification, and legal status, including whether groups possess a general right of secession or only a remedial right in cases of serious injustice. International law generally neither recognizes a broad right of unilateral secession nor absolutely prohibits it, while the constitutional law of individual states varies considerably. Secession has occurred throughout history through decolonization, the breakup of federations and multinational states, and regional independence movements. Historical...

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