Since World War II what areas, such as Biafra, have tried and failed to become independent nations?

centerice

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, but I'd say Chechnya. Mar 14 05, 10:30 PM

gmackematix

OK. That's almost certainly one, although I'm not sure the Chechens have finished yet. Mar 15 05, 1:35 AM

Arpeggionist

There was a wave of declarations of independece in 1948, 30 years after WWI was over when the British lost their mandate over any number of countries. The most famous declarations (countries that still remain independant) are Israel, India and Bangladesh, but they can't be the only ones. Mar 15 05, 2:50 AM

Stew54

I presume you're not after countries that have actually made it as independent states, gmack, nor movements that favour independence but have never had a taste of it (of which there are thousands)? For the purposes of this question, I've also discounted areas where there is currently effective actual independence but few outsiders recognise it, though it could be argued that these people have tried and failed to become independent I suppose. I'm thinking of places like South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Somaliland, Transdniestra, and maybe Northern Cyprus. In the same part of the world as Biafra there was Katanga, briefly independent in the early 1960s. Also, how about Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco since about 1970 but still recognised as a separate country by some nations. Some might argue that the State of Palestine falls into this category. Belarus may be heading that way, with a suspicion that it may cede its sovereignty back to Russia. I'd also suggest Somalia, independent from Italy in 1960 but for several years effectively a failed state where no-one has had de facto control and authority. Incidentally, Bangladesh became independent in 1971 not 1947/8, and from Pakistan not from Britain. Mar 15 05, 3:58 AM

Baloo55th

If you're counting Somaliland as not really independent (despite about 10 years of self government), you should also have Puntland next door to it. And then there are places like Hutt River Province..... Mar 15 05, 5:24 AM

Stew54

True enough. There's quite a few places with de facto independence but which aren't considered independent by other countries (or maybe by just one other country that has a vested interest). Another country that might be going the way of "failed independence" perhaps is Moldova, which doesn't seem viable as a state and may split with its constituent parts attaching themselves to Russia and Romania. Mar 15 05, 5:32 AM

centerice

Okay, I did misunderstand the question. If Chechnya is fighting a war for independence, that means to me that they tried and failed to become independent. Mar 15 05, 7:07 PM

gmackematix

I did say "OK" to Chechnya! You aren't to know what goes on in my head when I ask a question, but by "failed" I did mean not generally recognised as an independent nation now. It is interesting to realise just how many major attempted secessions from countries there have been although when I asked the question, I hoped it might throw up a few interesting "Passport to Pimlico" type incidents. Mar 15 05, 7:23 PM

centerice

I know you did say okay. I was just questioning my thought process, not yours. Sorry. Mar 15 05, 7:46 PM

Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

How many serial killers have there been in the UK since World War II? What nations did the Nazis occupy in World War II? Did the German army occupy any African nations in World War II? Since World War II, How many people have the American forces killed in so called 'Friendly Fire' accidents?

1 The War for Biafra On May 30, 1967, the tiny area of Biafra proclaimed its independence. The war, disease, and famine that followed rank among the worst disasters of the 20th century. See how much you know about this terrible war. African Difficult 10 Q CellarDoor Oct 22 00 1059 plays 2 Opera Since the Second World War Opera is sometimes said to be a dying art. This quiz hopes to show the reverse, by highlighting some of the composers worldwide who have added to the repertoire, from the 1940s into the first years of the twenty-first century. Opera Tough 15 Q stedman Sep 07 03 384 plays 3 The World Since 1945 During the half a century since the end of the Second World War, the world has changed dramatically. The political shape of the world had been completely transformed. Let's see how well have you kept track of contemporary history. 20th & 21st Centuries Very Difficult 25 Q swashbuckler Jun 19 02 2412 plays