What does breakaway region mean?

Answer 1

Usually, any time you read of a breakaway region it is referring to an area or region in a country which does not want to be governed or ruled by the country or government which claims it as its own. Throughout history, there has always been the constant and never ending struggle between those who are ruled and those who rule. Any group of people within a particular area or region which share a common bond, be it their ethnicity, language, culture, religion, etc. often join or stand together to procure or protect their shared goals and objectives. This can be seen throughout history in just about every part of the world. Normally, what is desired is to be independent and be able to live and govern themselves as they desire or see fit. A prime example of this would be some of the countries that made up part of the former Soviet Union after World War II until the early 1990s. Many of the former states that were taken over by the Soviet Union after World War II were not willing to remain part of the Union any longer. Many had wanted to break away much earlier but simply were not able to do so. Those who wanted to remain tied to Russia were included as part of the Russian Federation. Even in countries which did break away from Russian domination, there remained areas or regions which did not want to break ties with Russia such as South Ossetia and Abkhasia in the former Soviet Union member state of Georgia. These are referred to as breakaway regions from Georgia. Once any government has taken power by force and claimed authority over a certain area of land and people, any region within that area which has fought for independence from it or continues to fight for independence is referred to as a break away region. Once a region has been successful in its efforts to break away, it may continue to be referred to as a breakaway region by the power which once dominated and controlled it and by others who choose to identify it as such. Many times the breakaway regions are not nearly as large as those that made up the former Soviet Union.