The Rise of Research on Independence Referendums

Abstract

The increasing number of independence referendums in the world has boosted the scientific production about this topic. This review aims to provide an intellectual map to orient within this scientific field. Drawing on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, this study consisted in leading a bibliographical research within the Web of Science Core Collection from March to November 2020. A total of 609 publications were identified. This assessment divides into eight sections tackling successively the relevance of independence referendums, the definition of such a phenomenon, the technical features of plebiscites, the elaboration of comparative datasets, the legitimacy of those consultations, the drivers leading to the organization of independence referendums, the impact of referendums to settle ethnic violence and their capacity to favor state recognition, before to conclude with some related theoretical reflections.