Definition

Noun: * Government of a political unit by its own people: The state or condition of a country, nation, or political unit having the authority and power to govern itself, free from external control or influence. It is synonymous with self-government and autonomy.

Usage

"Self-rule" is a formal and political term used to describe the principle or the achieved status of a group governing its own affairs. It is often used in historical, political, and diplomatic contexts. * It is typically used as an uncountable noun (e.g., "the struggle for self-rule"). * It describes a collective condition, not an individual one.

Examples

• The island nation achieved self-rule after decades of colonial administration.
• The treaty granted the region a significant degree of self-rule in its internal affairs.
• A central promise of the movement was greater self-rule for the province.
• The transition to full self-rule was completed peacefully.

Advanced Usage

• "to attain/achieve/gain self-rule": This is a common collocation describing the successful acquisition of self-governing status.
  • The colony fought for many years to achieve self-rule.
• "to grant/allow self-rule": This describes the action of a higher authority permitting a region to govern itself.
  • The central government agreed to grant the territory self-rule.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-government (noun): A direct synonym for self-rule, often used interchangeably.
• Autonomy (noun): A very close synonym, emphasizing the right of self-governance. It can have a slightly broader application, including institutional or individual independence.
• Independence (noun): While related, this term specifically emphasizes freedom from external control and the status of being a separate, sovereign nation, which is a stronger condition than self-rule. A region can have self-rule (internal autonomy) while still being part of a larger sovereign state.
• Home rule (noun): A specific type of self-government, often referring to the delegation of powers from a central national government to a subordinate regional government (e.g., a city or county).

Synonyms

• Self-government
• Autonomy
• Sovereignty (in the context of independent states)
• Self-determination (emphasizing the right to choose one's political status)

Antonyms

• Dependence
• Subjugation
• Colonialism
• Heteronomy (government by an external authority)

Noun

1. government of a political unit by its own people