The French overseas territory of New Caledonia held its third independence referendum in three years on December 12. While voters decided to stick with France, low turnout amid boycott calls by pro-independence groups marred the outcome in the Pacific region just over 3,200 km away from Australia but 16,800 km away from mainland France.
To keep the focus tight, the referendums below are largely linked to questions of sovereignty, the role of the monarch and regional identity. A notable exclusion is Brexit as I did not have anything insightful to add. The two major referendums of 2014 in Scotland and Crimea, while deserving candidates, haven’t found a place either. But another Scottish independence vote may well be on the cards as a new year dawns. Referendums on social issues with international implications such as gay marriage, marijuana legalisation or the vote against abortion restrictions in Ireland will be for another quiz.
Questions
1) What proposal was rejected by voters in Australia in 1999, Tuvalu in 2008 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009?
2) India has had its share of referendums, mostly in the run-up to independence and its immediate aftermath (North-West Frontier Province, Sylhet, Junagadh). But the one considered a fully free-and-fair vote with the outcome uncertain was in 1967. It was to decide whether a small region (union territory) should merge with a larger state. Voters in the smaller entity opted to retain their separate status. Which region?
3) The last referendum directly tied to India was held in 1975. Where was it held and what was formalised by the referendum?
4) This country declared its independence in 1847, which was affirmed by a referendum. But only 272 people, all settlers, voted from among the eligible settlers (indigenous people could not vote). This was the first constitutional referendum on the continent. Which country?
5) The United Nations held a referendum in this British-held territory in Africa in 1961. The options were to merge with one of two neighbouring newly-independent countries. The northern part of the territory favoured the neighbouring former British colony while the southern part opted for the nearby former French colony with which it had stronger ethnic and religious links. Since then linguistic tensions have played a major role in a conflict that’s expanded over the last few years. Which are the two countries?
6) In January 2011 South Sudan held an independence referendum following a peace agreement with Sudan in 2005. It subsequently became the world’s youngest country after 99% of voters backed independence. In 2019 a region in the South Pacific held a non-binding referendum in which 98% of voters opted to break away from the country it is part of. The vote in the mineral-rich region followed a 2001 peace deal that ended the bloodiest conflict in that part of the world since World War II. The region’s leaders have set a 2027 deadline for full independence during talks this year. Name the region and the country it is now part of.
7) This former Dutch colony in the South Pacific is the western part of an island. The Dutch handed over power to a United Nations administration in 1962. In a year the post-colonial state that had laid claim to the former colony began administering it on the condition that it would hold an independence referendum. The vote was held in 1969 but the administering country and its military were accused of coercion by allowing only a group of handpicked voters to cast ballots. The official verdict was for a merger. Since then the mineral-rich region has faced separatism and violence stretching decades. Name the region and the country it is part of?
8) This region became an independent country after a referendum in 2006. The independence camp secured the 55% threshold the European Union insisted on for recognising the outcome. Which country? (Hint: the breakaway region and the entity it was part of did field a common team for the football world cup held soon after the referendum)
9) This province linguistically distinct from the rest of the country held referendums in 1980 and 1995 to further an independence bid. Both failed though the 1995 verdict was a narrow one. Name the province and country.
10) 2017 saw two independence referendums in the space of a week (September 25 and October 1). Both did not get international recognition and the second one led to the jailing of key secessionist politicians. Where did the referendums take place?
11) A referendum was held in this country in March 1992 but only a minority of the population could take part. The government advocated a 'yes' vote on the question and the result was a resounding yes. Which country and what was the issue? (Hint: I remember this because a cricket team's participation in the World Cup was at stake)
12) This country held a referendum in March 1950 on whether the king's constitutional powers should be restored. The king, who had been accused of collaborating with the Nazis, was in exile (he had been formally exonerated). While nearly 58% of voters backed the king's return, support was overwhelmingly from one linguistic region, while the other one was largely opposed. The government collapsed over the controversy and protests led to the king stepping down in favour of his 19-year-old son within months. Which country?
13) This country held a referendum in 1974 to decide whether its exiled former monarch should be allowed to return as king. The vote was held months after the ruling military junta handed over power to a civilian government. The king had initially cooperated with the junta only to fall out and seek exile. He was not allowed to campaign in person and had to present his case on television and radio from exile in London. Voters overwhelmingly opted for a republican system, rejecting the former king’s return. He moved back to the country only in 2013. Which country? (Hint for sports aficionados: the king was an Olympic gold medallist in 1960)
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9. Quebec, Canada
10. Catalonia
11. Zimbabwe(?)
13. Greece
1. The question was whether to become a republic.
2. Telangana
3. The annexation of Goa
4. _
5. Nigeria and Niger
6. _
7. _
8. Kosovo
9. Quebec
10. Catalonia, Spain
11. UAE
12. Belgium
13. Afghanistan. Zahir Shah