| Most people like to believe that they are | | | | declared its independence form the Ottoman |
| independent-free of a pack, their own person, | | | | Empire-the list of independence declarations is as long |
| unswayable by peer pressure. Is this actually true? | | | | as history itself. |
| Some philosophers and sociologists actually believe | | | | Much like individuals, nations that declare their |
| that there is wisdom in crowds and that many people | | | | independence immediately try to model their rules and |
| are guided through life by a sense of wanting to | | | | regulations upon other models that they admire. They |
| "belong." So which is actually true? | | | | build themselves up while searching for other nations |
| How many times have you heard the sentence "I'm an | | | | to form allegiances with-nations that they can trade |
| individual, just like everybody else!" Or "My friends and I | | | | with, fight with and, ultimately, live with in harmony. Even |
| are all individuals. We just agree a lot." The fact of the | | | | in a broad sense, the need to "belong" and forge |
| matter is that most people seek out a crowd or a tribe | | | | relationships wins out over complete independence. |
| of like minded people to belong to. The sentence "I'm | | | | There is not one nation that does not interact with the |
| an individual just like everybody else" is just about as | | | | rest of the globe in at least a few capacities. |
| popular as the idea that "no man is an island." | | | | The truth of the matter is that political independence is |
| When it comes to independence, many people try to | | | | starting to slowly become less important. While each |
| strike a balance. In America, children and adults alike | | | | nation wants to retain an individual identity, thanks to |
| seek out like minded individuals to form alliances with. | | | | things like global trade and the free exchange of ideas, |
| These friendships and relationships are based on a | | | | the relationships between nations are getting tighter. |
| common philosophy or ideology and while this | | | | Many people call this the shrinking of the world as |
| sameness is the reason for the bond, the individual | | | | individual nations give up their independence to be a |
| parties struggle to retain their individual independence. | | | | part of the global community. |
| This can often lead to a sociological kind of | | | | In conclusion, it looks like true independence isn't true at |
| nomad-ness as people drift from group to group trying | | | | all. Independence is declared in a number of degrees-a |
| to find the best "fit" for themselves. | | | | need to retain one's individual sense of self while still |
| Politically speaking, independence is what happens | | | | belonging to a group. Nobody wants to be left alone |
| when a new nation is formed and declares itself free | | | | completely. Even those who say that they are more |
| of the laws and rules of the country that it used to | | | | comfortable spending time alone still have a few |
| belong to. The United States declared its Independence | | | | relationships that they rely on. |
| from England a couple of centuries ago, Bolivia | | | | |