When's the next time the world's map is redrawn?

[2952-0-0]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial). In the 1990s we had dozens emerging from the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Czechoslavia. Iraq briefly annexed Kuwait and then lost. Germany was reunited. Hong Kong and Macau returned to China, and several islands in the Pacific cut ties from Washington.

So when's the next time we see a change in the world map?

My non-expert thoughts in order from most likely to least likely are:

Serb parts of Kosovo vote to stay with Serbia.
South Sudan peacefully secedes from the Arab-dominated government.
BiH is dissolved as the Serb part follows Kosovo's precedent.
The frozen conflicts in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and Nagarano-Karabakh are somehow resolved.
Belgium is quietly dissolved, with Flanders remaining independent and Wallonia joining France.
Taiwan reinstates itself in China after a few years of democracy in Beijing.
Kim Jong Il falls in NK, and a bloody power struggle results in Chinese intervention and reunification.
Eastern Bolivia secedes from the Indian-dominated government.
Belarus dictator Lukashenko annexes his country with Russia.
Catalonia and Scotland secede from Madrid and London.

That's all I can see as remotely realistic at this time.

[Hatman 🍁]

Belgium? seriously?

I'm still waiting for Canada to annex Turks and Caicos haha

[phk]

Well today with Kosovo.

But maybe Sudan.

[Jens]

The most likely is international recognition of Somaliland.

I don't believe in secession of parts of Bolivia. The borders in Latin America has been very stable for a long time.

If they find oil there is also a good change that Faroe Islands becomes independent

[Silent Hunter]

You missed an independent Palestine.

[Colin]

Democracy? In Beijing? Hahaha.

[Јas]

Unlikely to come to anything and not sure if this counts, but nonetheless...Berwick-upon-Tweed is as likely to change hands as much as some of the suggestions made.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

You missed an independent Palestine.

Not gonna happen.

[Хahar 🤔]

You missed an independent Palestine.

Not gonna happen.

It'll have to. Israel can't stick around in its horrendously bloated present form for now.

[Јas]

The answer?

[Хahar 🤔]

The answer?

That little stubby thing north of Bioko?

[12th Doctor]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

[J. J.]

I was going to say this Thursday, but it was apparently today.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

[12th Doctor]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

Mainly because of protests from the Soviets.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

Mainly because of protests from the Soviets.

Those "Soviets" seem to be pretty powerful, considering that a) they're only one nation, which b) ceased to exist in 1991 and c) is still able to influence the foreign policy decisions of three-quarters of Earth's nation-states.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

Mainly because of protests from the Soviets.

no, more likely it's because they feel it would give Abkhazia and South Ossetia license to declare independence for themselves.

[??????????]

Soulty. Glad to see you are using the correct term by calling them Soviets.

[dead0man]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

Mainly because of protests from the Soviets.

no, more likely it's because they feel it would give Abkhazia and South Ossetia license to declare independence for themselves.

ding ding ding

[Middle-aged Europe]

Since 2000, we've had three new independent states: East Timor, Montenegro, and Kosovo (the last is controversial).

Controversial to who?  The Soviets?

Perhaps to the 148 nations in the world who haven't recognized Kosovo's independence... including Brazil, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain.


Interestingly (but not very surprising), Georgia is also refusing to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. At least Saakashvili und Putin/Medvedev can agree on something...

Mainly because of protests from the Soviets.

no, more likely it's because they feel it would give Abkhazia and South Ossetia license to declare independence for themselves.

ding ding ding

I thought that this was fairly obvious...

Guess why Cyprus hasn't recognized Kosovo as well...


(Though it's safe to assume that not all of the 148 non-recognizers have a separatist movement/government in their own country.)

[dead0man]

Right, some of them are beholden to countries that have them.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Right, some of them are beholden to countries that have them.

You mean like New Zealand?

[Bacon King]

Right, some of them are beholden to countries that have them.

You mean like New Zealand?

you never know when the south island might try something.

[MasterJedi]

It's only a matter of time before Canada becomes territories until the Americanization is over, then they become states.

[CARLHAYDEN]

The serbian population of Kosovo are living under a naroterrorist, islamofascist regime which allows no freedom.

They may soon be massacred if they don't flee.

They will never be allowed to secede from the monstorous regime which Bush put into power.