Countries most likely to unite/split in our lifetime

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
The folks in Quebec only agree with sovereignty when they think it means they can keep Canadian passports.

If Bourassa had kept his word, independence would have been a done deal in 92.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Richelieu
If Bourassa had kept his word, independence would have been a done deal in 92.

I am curious, why?

[Lancer]

"KURDISTAN anybody? It could come into existance by splitting from Iraq and the US couldn't really do much to stop it. If it split from Iraq would the US
support it in the face of a possible Turkish invasion? Remember, they would have the northern oil fields.

Kurdistan splitting from Iraq could eventually lead to Iran and Turkey splitting."

Damn right.

[Richelieu]

After the Meech lake failure, independence was polling at around 70% after Bourassa made a speech in the legislature saying that Quebec was and would always be free to choose what it wanted to do. (Libre de ses choix was the expression he used i believe.)
Imagine: the PQ and the Libs were basically saying the same thing! I remember Parizeau (the old bastard was then leader of the PQ) saying that he extended his hand in help to his premier.
After that the Liberal party rewrote it's own constitution and the Constitutional platform asked for a referendum to be held within the mandate (i don't remember the exact timeline).
Of course Bourassa was not only a strong federalist, he was also a real politician. He never intended to hold a referendum on independance. Instead he joined forces with the feds for the Charlottetown accord and said that he had fulfilled the referendum obligation in the party's platform by doing so.
Some in the party - including Mario Dumont and the guy who had basically written the Libs constitutional position- didn't appreciate that and split. They created the Action Democratique party that Dumont still leads today.

[notyoueither]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing, that Bourassa did not hold a referendum that would have resulted in 'Oui' winning?

That would have been quite the picture, a federalist starting the ball in motion for seperation.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Is that a good thing or a bad thing, that Bourassa did not hold a referendum that would have resulted in 'Oui' winning?

That would have been quite the picture, a federalist starting the ball in motion for seperation.

I think it's the only way you could have gotten a really significant majority on the Oui side: if both major parties had united on the same side. In my mind, the results would probably have been around 65 -35.
Having the leader of the Libs put things in motion instead of the PQ also would have lent some more credibility to the process IMO, and that can't hurt when you talk about negociations after the fact, international recognition for a new state, etc...

I'd just love to know what question they would have asked this time.

[Dauphin]

Would an independent Quebec be interested in joining the EU?

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Big Crunch
Would an independent Quebec be interested in joining the EU?

You will certainly find some bozo around here who is going to try. He may even get himself elected.


EDIT: Hypothetically speaking... of course.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by GePap
Agree that Shi's list is the best offered.

Chechnya is sad proof of the length some states go to maintain their borders unchanged. The Chinese would be no less brutal.

Add one thought- Taiwan somehow ending up part of one China again.

Taiwan was never part of China, so how could they be part of China one again? Read their history, I have.

Joseph

[Fake Boris]

Richelieu is right. Bourassa's memory is despised. He can go to history's junk for all I care.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Joseph
Taiwan was never part of China, so how could they be part of China one again? Read their history, I have.

Joseph

Wasn't Taiwan Chinese before the Japanese conquest of the 19th century? (circa 1877 I think).

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Tripledoc
Gibraltar will join Spain.

Big vote last year, Spain lost by a big margin. I don't remember the numbers.

England will be a rump state with Wales and Scotland fully independent.

Scotland was going to vote on it, what happen?

Cypress will unite.

Greeks and Turks, you must be kidding.

Palestine will split from Israel.

You mean that Israel will give up some land.

Montenegro will split from Serbia.

They should have 5 years ago.

Kosovo will join Albania.

Kosovo is the homeland of the Serbs, and it should remain with Serbia.

Taiwan and China will unite.

I hope not. Taiwan has never been part of China and should never be part of China. Taiwan should be Independent Taiwan.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Joseph
Big vote last year, Spain lost by a big margin. I don't remember the numbers.

187 people voted Yes, as compared with 17,900 who voted No

Scotland was going to vote on it, what happen?

They voted on a parliament, which has been running for about 4 years. Other than that I'm not sure what you thought they were voting on.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Whoha

California will probably try to join mexico at some point, the other border states may as well. this will be particularly violent.

As long as I can hold a gun in my hand, that's not going to happen.
My Great Grandfather was born at sea while his mother and Father was coming to LA Calif (1830), My Grandfather was born in LA (1870), My mother, Modesto Ca (1906), and me Modesto Ca. (1944). My Grandmother Highway 49 gold country (1872).

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Theben
Add Pakistan to the split list.

Continued US support to the current regime could trigger a civil war in the western, pro-Taliban provinces.

That would be great for the US. Then we could bomb the sh!t out of the state.