Self-governance,self-government,self-sovereignty, orself-rule is the ability of a person or group to exercise all necessary functions ofregulation without intervention from an externalauthority.[2][3][4] It may refer to personal conduct or to any form ofinstitution, such asfamily units,social groups,affinity groups,legal bodies,industry bodies,religions, andpolitical entities of various degrees.[4][5][6] Self-governance is closely related to various philosophical andsocio-political concepts such asautonomy,independence,self-control,self-discipline, andsovereignty.[7]
In the context ofnation states, self-governance is callednational sovereignty which is an important concept ininternational law. In the context ofadministrative division, a self-governingterritory is called anautonomous region.[8] Self-governance is also associated with political contexts in which apopulation ordemographic becomes independent fromcolonial rule,absolute government,absolute monarchy, or any government that they perceive does not adequatelyrepresent them.[9] It is therefore a fundamental tenet of manydemocracies,republics andnationalist 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.
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This principle has been explored in philosophy for centuries, with figures inancient Greek philosophy such asPlato positing thatself-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 ofpolitical freedom and by extension the freedom and autonomy of anypolitical 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 thatrationality is the key to trueagency and autonomy, and that political governance is enabled by the governing of one's ownjudgement.[14] His political philosophy was a prominent influence onImmanuel Kant, and was later taken up in part by theFounding Fathers of the United States.
The nature of self-governance, that freedom relies upon self-regulation, has further been explored by contemporary academicsGilles 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.
The means of self-governance usually comprises some or all of the following:
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