Creating new states: the strategic use of referendums in secession movements

What is the value of using referendums as part of independence movements? By considering recent prominent secession movements, this article theorizes that referendums provide several strategic advantages to distinct communities seeking territorial independence. First, the referendum is a key event that transfers power away from political elites and towards citizens, who are given responsibility for deciding independence. Second, the referendum forces the central government to act by creating a date when independence will be decided (a self-created window of opportunity). Third, the referendum frames independence in terms of democracy and the right to self-determination, making it difficult for the central government to challenge. Fourth, referendum campaigns can help solidify the identity of a distinct community (or 'resurrect' it), thus increasing the number of citizens concerned with secession. While not always successful, secession referendums provide advantages to those groups that control their deployment.