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{{Short description|Mode of governance}}
'''Self-governance''' is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of [[organization]]. It may refer to [[personal conduct]] or [[family unit]]s but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e. [[profession]]s, industry bodies, [[religion]]s and [[political unit]]s, up to and including [[autonomous region]]s and [[aboriginal people]]s (or others within [[nation-state]]s who enjoy some [[sovereign right]]s). It falls within the larger context of [[governance]] and principles such as [[consent of the governed]], and may involve [[non-profit organization]]s and [[corporate governance]].
{{About|the mode of governance|similar concepts of regulation|Self-regulation (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Self-Government|the Faraoese political party|Sjálvstýri{{!}}Self-Government (Faroe Islands)}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=February 2023}}


{{Governance}}
It can be used to described a people or group being able to exercise all of the necessary functions of power without intervention from any authority which they cannot themselves alter. Self rule is associated then in contexts where there is the end of [[colonialism | colonial]] rule, [[absolutism | absolute]] government or [[monarchy]], as well as demands for [[autonomous entity|autonomy]] by religious, ethnic or geographic regions which perceive themselves as being unrepresented or underrepresented in a national government. It is therefore a fundamental tenet of [[republicanism | republican]] government and [[democracy]] as well as [[nationalism]]. [[Gandhi]]'s term "[[satygraha]]" is a branch of this self rule ideology. Another large proponent of self-rule when a government's actions are immoral is [[Thoreau]].


[[File:Nuuk_and_Katuaq_-_Visit_Greenland.jpg|thumb|[[Greenland]], an [[autonomous administrative division|autonomous territory]] of the [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]], has been self-governed since 2009.{{sfn|''Greenland in Figures 2012''}} Pictured: [[Nuuk]], Greenland.]]
Generally when self-governance of nation-states is discussed, it is called [[national sovereignty]] - a concept important in [[international law]]. Self-governance of cities is [[urban autonomy]], and the [[democracy|democratic]] governance of an [[ecoregion]] is [[bioregional democracy]]. These will not be covered in this article.


'''Self-governance''', '''self-government''', '''self-sovereignty''', or '''self-rule''' is the ability of a person or group to exercise all necessary functions of [[regulation]] without intervention from an external [[authority (sociology)|authority]].{{sfn|Rasmussen|2011|pp=x–xi}}{{sfn|Sørensen|Triantafillou|2009|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Esmark|Triantafillou|2009|pp=29–30}} It may refer to personal conduct or to any form of [[institution]], such as [[family|family units]], [[social group]]s, [[affinity group]]s, [[legal person|legal bodies]], [[trade association|industry bodies]], [[religion]]s, and [[polity|political entities]] of various degrees.{{sfn|Esmark|Triantafillou|2009|pp=29–30}}{{sfn|Sørensen|Triantafillou|2009|p=2}}{{sfn|Sørensen|Torfing|2009|p=43}} Self-governance is closely related to various philosophical and [[political sociology|socio-political]] concepts such as [[autonomy]], [[independence]], [[self-control]], [[Discipline#Self-discipline|self-discipline]], and [[sovereignty]].{{sfn|Rasmussen|2011|p=x}}
This article focuses on the self-governance of professions, industries including unions, and formal or informal political units including ethnic or ethical 'nations' not defined by national borders, and of religious organizations, which have professional and political elements. There are many historical examples of such organizations or groups, and some, e.g. the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Freemasons]], the [[Iroquois Confederacy]], have histories going back centuries, including vast bodies of precedent and shared culture and knowledge.


In the context of [[nation state]]s, self-governance is called [[Westphalian sovereignty|national sovereignty]] which is an important concept in [[international law]]. In the context of [[administrative division]], a self-governing [[territory]] is called an [[autonomous administrative division|autonomous region]].{{sfn|Ghai|Woodman|2013|pp=3–6}} Self-governance is also associated with political contexts in which a [[population]] or [[demographic]] becomes independent from [[colonial rule]], [[absolute government]], [[absolute monarchy]], or any government that they perceive does not adequately [[representation (politics)|represent]] them.{{sfn|Berlin|1997|pp=228–229}} It is therefore a fundamental tenet of many [[democracies]], [[republic]]s and [[nationalist]] governments.{{sfn|Rasmussen|2011}} [[Mohandas Gandhi]]'s term "[[swaraj]]" is a branch of this self-rule ideology. [[Henry David Thoreau]] was a major proponent of self-rule in lieu of immoral governments.
A means of self-governance usually comprises at least the following:
*an [[ethical code]] that outlines acceptable behavior within the unit or group, e.g. the [[Hippocratic Oath]] of [[Physician|doctor]]s, the [[Ten Key Values of the Green Party|Ten Key Values]] of [[Green parties]].
*some set of criteria whereby an outside [[legal code]] or [[political authorities|political authority]] can be called in - unless the group itself opposes such authority, e.g. [[organized crime]] groups which are self-governing almost by definition.
*a means of ensuring that outside authority does not become involved unless and until these criteria are satisfied, usually a [[code of silence]] regarding the activities of insiders when conversing with outsiders.
*a process for registering and resolving [[grievance]]s, e.g. [[medical malpractice]], union procedures, and for achieving closure regarding them.
*the power to discipline its own members, ranging from fines and censure up to and including killing them, e.g. the [[Irish Republican Army]], [[mafia]] or [[Tong]] groups, and militaries (see [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]])
*a means of selecting or electing leaders, e.g. a [[voting system]], gang wars, identification of divinely selected individuals (e.g. [[Dalai Lama]] discovery).
*a means of controlling parties, factions, tendencies or other sub-groups that seek to break away and form new entities that would compete with the group or organization that already exists.


== Background ==
Some degree of [[consensus decision making]] is usually involved in any self-governance system, if only because individual members of the group may choose to violate the criteria for invoking outside authority, break the code of silence, or otherwise cause the group to lose its [[Wiktionary:autonomy|autonomy]]. For instance, any member of the [[mafia]] can, and many do, "rat" (inform) on their colleagues, gaining a new identity, e.g. via the [[FBI]] [[Witness protection program]] in the [[United States|U.S.]]. Such betrayal ends the individuals' involvement in the group, and he can no longer access its unique [[social capital]]. However, he will remember the [[instructional capital]] and possibly be able to restart activities without the help of his former group. To curtail this possibility, most groups have very powerful means of [[coercion]] to prevent breakaway factions (or, in religions, "[[heresy|heresies]]") from competing directly with the old group.
{{expand section|small=no|date=November 2020}}


This principle has been explored in philosophy for centuries, with figures in [[ancient Greek philosophy]] such as [[Plato]] positing that {{wt|en|self-mastery}} is necessary for true freedom. Plato believed that individuals or groups cannot achieve freedom unless they govern their own pleasures and desires, and instead will be in a state of enslavement.{{sfn|Young|2018}}{{sfn|Laks|2007}} He states that self-mastery is the ability to be one's own master, it means being able to control one's own impulses and desires, rather than being controlled by them. Accordingly, this principle is not only a fundamental moral freedom but also as a necessary condition of [[political freedom]] and by extension the freedom and autonomy of any [[political structure]].{{sfn|Young|2018}}
== See also ==
*[Puerto Rico: http://www.independencia.net Partido Independentista Puertorriquen~o (PIP)]
*[http://www.independencia.net/ingles/welcome.html PUERTO RICAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY (PIP) (GREAT INFORMATION SOURCE FOR STUDENTS)]
*[[Secession]]
*[[Self-reference]]
*[[Self-awareness]]
*[[Sociocracy]]
*[[Anarchism]]


[[John Locke]] further developed this idea, arguing that genuine freedom requires cognitive self-discipline and self-government. He believed that man's capacity for self-governance is the source of all freedom. He believed that freedom is not a possession but an action, that is, it is not something that you have but something you do.{{sfn|Casson|2011|pp=159–160}} Locke proposes that [[rationality]] is the key to true [[Agency (psychology)|agency]] and autonomy, and that political governance is enabled by the governing of one's own [[judgement]].{{sfn|Casson|2011|pp=160–161, 167}} His political philosophy was a prominent influence on [[Immanuel Kant]], and was later taken up in part by the [[Founding Fathers of the United States]].
[[Category:Forms of government]]


The nature of self-governance, that freedom relies upon self-regulation, has further been explored by contemporary academics [[Gilles Deleuze]], [[Michel Foucault]], [[Judith Butler]], [[William E. Connolly]], and others.{{sfn|Rasmussen|2011|p=xiii}}
[[ja:自治]]

Self-governance is not just a philosophical concept but also a practical one. It can be seen in various forms such as self-regulation, self-control, self-management and self-leadership. It is an important concept in the fields of management, leadership, and governance, and is seen as a key to achieving personal and organizational goals. Self-governance can also be seen in the context of community and society, where it refers to the ability of individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their community.

Additionally, self-governance is also closely related to the concept of self-determination. Self-determination refers to the idea that individuals and groups have the right to govern themselves, to make decisions about their own lives and to determine their own future and political status without outside interference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal Aspects of Self-Determination |url=https://pesd.princeton.edu/node/511 |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128102524/https://pesd.princeton.edu/node/511 |url-status=live }}</ref> This concept is closely linked to the idea of self-governance because it emphasizes the importance of individuals and groups being able to take control of their own lives and to make decisions about their own future. It is also closely linked to the idea of autonomy, which refers to the ability of individuals and groups to make decisions for themselves, without external influence or control.

== Means of self-governance ==

The means of self-governance usually comprises some or all of the following:
* A [[code of conduct]] that outlines acceptable behavior within the unit or group.{{sfn|Esmark|Triantafillou|2009|p=31}} This may include a [[legal code|legal]] or [[ethical code]] (e.g. the [[Hippocratic Oath]] of [[Physician|doctors]], or established codes of [[professional ethics]]).
* A means of ensuring external authority does not become involved unless and until certain criteria are satisfied.
* A means of facilitating the intended functions of the unit or group.
* A means of registering and resolving [[grievance]]s (e.g. [[medical malpractice]], union procedures, and for achieving closure regarding them).{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
* A means of [[disciplinary procedure]] within the unit or group,{{sfn|Esmark|Triantafillou|2009|p=32}} ranging from [[fine (penalty)|fines]] and [[censure]] up to and including penalty of death.
* A means of suppressing parties, factions, tendencies, or other sub-groups that seek to [[secede]] from the unit or group.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Society|Politics}}
{{div col}}
* [[Anarchism]]
* [[Autonomy]]
* [[Consent of the governed]]
* [[Secession]]
* [[Self-determination]]
* [[Self-governing colony]]
* [[Personal development|Self-management]]
* [[Self-ownership]]
* [[Sociocracy]]
* [[Swaraj]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|title=Greenland in Figures 2012|journal=Greenland in Figures|publisher=stat.gl|isbn=978-87-986787-6-2|issn=1602-5709|access-date=10 February 2013|url-status=live|url=http://www.stat.gl/publ/en/GF/2012/content/Greenland%20in%20Figures%202012.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113160436/http://www.stat.gl/publ/en/GF/2012/content/Greenland%20in%20Figures%202012.pdf|ref={{SfnRef|Greenland in Figures 2012}}}}
* {{cite book|first1=Eva|last1=Sørensen|first2=Peter|last2=Triantafillou|chapter=The Politics of Self-Governance: An Introduction|title=The Politics of Self-Governance|year=2009|publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=978-0-7546-7164-0}}
* {{cite book|first1=Anders|last1=Esmark|first2=Peter|last2=Triantafillou|chapter=A Macro Level Perspective on Governance of the Self and Others|title=The Politics of Self-Governance|year=2009|publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=978-0-7546-7164-0}}
* {{cite book|first1=Eva|last1=Sørensen|first2=Jacob|last2=Torfing|chapter=The Politics of Self-Governance in Meso Level Theories|title=The Politics of Self-Governance|year=2009|publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=978-0-7546-7164-0}}
* {{cite book|first1=Yash|last1=Ghai|first2=Sophia|last2=Woodman|title=Practicing Self-Government: A Comparative Study of Autonomous Regions|year=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-01858-7}}
* {{cite journal|first=Carl|last=Young|year=2018|title=Plato's Concept of Liberty in the Laws|journal=History of Political Thought|volume=39|issue=3|issn=0143-781X|publisher=Imprint Academic}}
* {{cite journal|first=André|last=Laks|year=2007|title=Freedom Liberty and Liberality in Plato's Laws|url=https://www.academia.edu/36305468|journal=Social Philosophy and Policy|volume=24|issue=2|pages=130–152|doi=10.1017/S0265052507070197|s2cid=144268937|access-date=2020-01-01|archive-date=2022-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422060227/https://www.academia.edu/36305468|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|first=Isaiah|last=Berlin|year=1997|title=The Proper Study of Mankind|publisher=Chatto & Windus|editor1-first=Henry|editor1-last=Hardy|editor2-first=Rodger|editor2-last=Hausheer|isbn=978-0374527174}}
* {{cite book|first=Douglas John|last=Casson|year=2011|chapter=Freedom, Happiness, and the Reasonable Self|title=Liberating Judgment: Fanatics, Skeptics, and John Locke's Politics of Probability|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691144740}}
* {{cite book|first=Claire Elaine|last=Rasmussen|year=2011|title=The Autonomous Animal: Self-governance and the Modern Subject|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0816669561}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite journal|first=Colin|last=Bird|year=2000|title=The Possibility of Self-Government|journal=The American Political Science Review|volume=94|number=3|publisher=American Political Science Association|pages=563–577|doi=10.2307/2585831|jstor=2585831|s2cid=147278871|url=https://www.academia.edu/1312067|access-date=2019-12-30|archive-date=2022-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504233305/https://www.academia.edu/1312067|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|url=https://www.routledge.com/Autonomy-Self-Governance-and-Conflict-Resolution-Innovative-approaches/Weller-Wolff/p/book/9780415479592first1=Marc|last1=Weller|first2=Stefan|last2=Wolff|title=Autonomy, Self-governance and Conflict Resolution: Innovative approaches to institutional design in divided societies|year=2005|publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-33986-3}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline|Self-governance}}

{{Autonomous types of first-tier administration}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Self-governance}}

[[Category:Self-governance| ]]
[[Category:Forms of local government]]
[[Category:Autonomy]]
[[Category:Sovereignty]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 14 October 2024

Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, has been self-governed since 2009.[1] Pictured: Nuuk, Greenland.

Self-governance, self-government, self-sovereignty, or self-rule is the ability of a person or group to exercise all necessary functions of regulation without intervention from an external authority.[2][3][4] It may refer to personal conduct or to any form of institution, such as family units, social groups, affinity groups, legal bodies, industry bodies, religions, and political entities of various degrees.[4][5][6] Self-governance is closely related to various philosophical and socio-political concepts such as autonomy, independence, self-control, self-discipline, and sovereignty.[7]

In the context of nation states, self-governance is called national sovereignty which is an important concept in international law. In the context of administrative division, a self-governing territory is called an autonomous region.[8] Self-governance is also associated with political contexts in which a population or demographic becomes independent from colonial rule, absolute government, absolute monarchy, or any government that they perceive does not adequately represent them.[9] It is therefore a fundamental tenet of many democracies, republics and nationalist governments.[10] Mohandas Gandhi's term "swaraj" is a branch of this self-rule ideology. Henry David Thoreau was a major proponent of self-rule in lieu of immoral governments.

Background

[edit]

This principle has been explored in philosophy for centuries, with figures in ancient Greek philosophy such as Plato positing that self-mastery is necessary for true freedom. Plato believed that individuals or groups cannot achieve freedom unless they govern their own pleasures and desires, and instead will be in a state of enslavement.[11][12] He states that self-mastery is the ability to be one's own master, it means being able to control one's own impulses and desires, rather than being controlled by them. Accordingly, this principle is not only a fundamental moral freedom but also as a necessary condition of political freedom and by extension the freedom and autonomy of any political structure.[11]

John Locke further developed this idea, arguing that genuine freedom requires cognitive self-discipline and self-government. He believed that man's capacity for self-governance is the source of all freedom. He believed that freedom is not a possession but an action, that is, it is not something that you have but something you do.[13] Locke proposes that rationality is the key to true agency and autonomy, and that political governance is enabled by the governing of one's own judgement.[14] His political philosophy was a prominent influence on Immanuel Kant, and was later taken up in part by the Founding Fathers of the United States.

The nature of self-governance, that freedom relies upon self-regulation, has further been explored by contemporary academics Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, William E. Connolly, and others.[15]

Self-governance is not just a philosophical concept but also a practical one. It can be seen in various forms such as self-regulation, self-control, self-management and self-leadership. It is an important concept in the fields of management, leadership, and governance, and is seen as a key to achieving personal and organizational goals. Self-governance can also be seen in the context of community and society, where it refers to the ability of individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their community.

Additionally, self-governance is also closely related to the concept of self-determination. Self-determination refers to the idea that individuals and groups have the right to govern themselves, to make decisions about their own lives and to determine their own future and political status without outside interference.[16] This concept is closely linked to the idea of self-governance because it emphasizes the importance of individuals and groups being able to take control of their own lives and to make decisions about their own future. It is also closely linked to the idea of autonomy, which refers to the ability of individuals and groups to make decisions for themselves, without external influence or control.

Means of self-governance

[edit]

The means of self-governance usually comprises some or all of the following:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Greenland in Figures 2012.
  2. ^ Rasmussen 2011, pp. x–xi.
  3. ^ Sørensen & Triantafillou 2009, pp. 1–3.
  4. ^ a b Esmark & Triantafillou 2009, pp. 29–30.
  5. ^ Sørensen & Triantafillou 2009, p. 2.
  6. ^ Sørensen & Torfing 2009, p. 43.
  7. ^ Rasmussen 2011, p. x.
  8. ^ Ghai & Woodman 2013, pp. 3–6.
  9. ^ Berlin 1997, pp. 228–229.
  10. ^ Rasmussen 2011.
  11. ^ a b Young 2018.
  12. ^ Laks 2007.
  13. ^ Casson 2011, pp. 159–160.
  14. ^ Casson 2011, pp. 160–161, 167.
  15. ^ Rasmussen 2011, p. xiii.
  16. ^ "Legal Aspects of Self-Determination". The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  17. ^ Esmark & Triantafillou 2009, p. 31.
  18. ^ Esmark & Triantafillou 2009, p. 32.

Works cited

[edit]
  • "Greenland in Figures 2012" (PDF). Greenland in Figures. stat.gl. ISBN 978-87-986787-6-2. ISSN 1602-5709. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  • Sørensen, Eva; Triantafillou, Peter (2009). "The Politics of Self-Governance: An Introduction". The Politics of Self-Governance. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7546-7164-0.
  • Esmark, Anders; Triantafillou, Peter (2009). "A Macro Level Perspective on Governance of the Self and Others". The Politics of Self-Governance. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7546-7164-0.
  • Sørensen, Eva; Torfing, Jacob (2009). "The Politics of Self-Governance in Meso Level Theories". The Politics of Self-Governance. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7546-7164-0.
  • Ghai, Yash; Woodman, Sophia (2013). Practicing Self-Government: A Comparative Study of Autonomous Regions. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-01858-7.
  • Young, Carl (2018). "Plato's Concept of Liberty in the Laws". History of Political Thought. 39 (3). Imprint Academic. ISSN 0143-781X.
  • Laks, André (2007). "Freedom Liberty and Liberality in Plato's Laws". Social Philosophy and Policy. 24 (2): 130–152. doi:10.1017/S0265052507070197. S2CID 144268937. Archived from the original on 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  • Berlin, Isaiah (1997). Hardy, Henry; Hausheer, Rodger (eds.). The Proper Study of Mankind. Chatto & Windus. ISBN 978-0374527174.
  • Casson, Douglas John (2011). "Freedom, Happiness, and the Reasonable Self". Liberating Judgment: Fanatics, Skeptics, and John Locke's Politics of Probability. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691144740.
  • Rasmussen, Claire Elaine (2011). The Autonomous Animal: Self-governance and the Modern Subject. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0816669561.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]