ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a tour d’horizon of the history, theory and practice of referendums on independence or secession. In 1995, a few months before the referendum on independence, the Quebecois premier Jacques Parizeau made a visit to Paris to convince Jacques Chirac, the Gaullist President, to recognize a future independent state of Quebec. Historically, the independence referendums have come in waves, a few in the early 1860, when the US states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia – held referendums on independence following the election of Abraham Lincoln to the US presidency. All the referendums were won but no country recognized the results. The average turnout in the 40 independence referendums held since 1980, has been 86%. Similarly, support for independence, notwithstanding the legality of the referendum, has been high. Statistical methods it was shown that it was easier to win support for independence if the government controlled the process.
