Independence days are vital. They are observed with various programs. As per the the reports of BBC and CNN, many developed, developing and less developed countries including the United States, India and Indonesia that were independent from the occupation of other countries celebrate their independence on their independence day. While many countries have become independent through a liberation war, many others have done so with agreements with colonizers. There were struggles for independence, even when it was based on peaceful agreement. It is a chance for a nation to celebrate its freedom, remember the sacrifices made by its citizens and reflect on the country’s journey and identity.
An independence days has significance. It honors the sacrifices made to achieve sovereignty and motivates a nation to define its own future, establish its laws and values, build a society free from foreign rule and provide the grounds conducive to all of its citizens. It — furthermore— reminds sovereignty which allows a nation to govern itself without external control and the importance of economic development, enabling a country to manage its own trade and resources for prosperity, self-determination, granting the right to choose its own path and policies, international recognition and enabling a nation to participate in global affairs as an equal member of the international community. Many countries take the significance of independence seriously and provide the grounds needed for realizing its significance.
But the significance of independence is not taken into consideration most often by different countries, though an independence day is observed. Consequently, many countries fail to ensure self-determination and improve the grounds needed for all citizens due to economic, geopolitical, political and other reasons. Many countries in Asia and Africa fail to realize the significance of their independence due to economic dependency, flawed policies, political revenge, the lingering effects of colonial structures, internal instability like corruption and conflict and the complex realities of geopolitics that can undermine sovereignty, along with other geopolitical reasons.
Consequently, many countries fail to ensure self-determination. Laws and policies are often dictated by foreign countries — no matter whether they are suitable or not — leading to the lack of the desired improvements. Moreover, many citizens are deprived of opportunities needed to ensure economic freedom, political freedom and even religious freedom in many countries. Different groups including minorities are repressed in many countries, though independence is for all. Many cannot earn the amount needed for decent living and pursue their goals in different countrie. Some countries fail to do so even after decades of independence, despite potentials.
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But it is not at all right that efforts are not made to realize the significance of independence. Legal, policy based, diplomatic and other efforts are made to address challenges and realize the significance of independence. Consequently, the grounds have improved in many countries with improved economic conditions, better political grounds, improved scope of religious rights and many others, even in many less developed countries, regardless of race, religion and culture.Many minority groups and other deprived groups have been getting more opportunities. These are continuing, indicating further possible improvements.
But there are various flaws in the efforts. While there is limited international cooperation on many grounds, despite its remarkable improvements in the last several decades, there is a lack of efforts of the governments in many countries. There is a lack of efforts to make laws and policies considering the reasoned interests of all within the state boundary, including opposition groups and disadvantaged groups or people, in many countries, including in many developing countries. Many countries maintain the same power dynamics that existed under colonial rule — depriving many others.
The realization of the significance of independence is vital. But the independence that came through the sacrifice of many lives needs to be beneficial and meaningful for all. For this, measures are needed to address the challenges. International cooperation is desired on various grounds including economic development. But generating international cooperation at the desired level may not always be feasible because of conflicting geopolitical interests among nations and other reasons. For this, the nations have the main roles to play and more to do.
