The only breakup that seemed to work out ok was the Czech/Slovak one, but they were more like adult lovers that realized circumstances put them together more than their own choice.

There are the Quebec and Basque independence folks that garner as much sympathy from me as rich kid who doesn’t approve of his prep school.

Also, the romantic and exciting move to independence seems easier and much more fun than the bureaucratic governance of a new nation. What happens when all the flags stop waving and the party ends?

You have to draft a constitution, tax codes, legislative branch rules, political party system rules, create a court system, federal regulatory codes and systems of enforcement. That’s the fun part then there’s the roads, schools, police, fire, defense, hospitals, water, sewage, energy, communication systems, public transportation, housing…Oh and now that you’re a country there are a thousand different international bodies, organizations, committees, agencies, partnerships and diplomatic commitments you now need to join and manage. You country is also probably in debt so I hope you have a few Phd’s in international finance and Bono’s number on speed dial laying around.

Independence is romantic, running a country is a lot of work. I guess the next time someone is a proponent of an independence movement ask them what happens after the party is over and the real work starts?

ps. I like how you can now see “related posts from the Past” under your entries now.

Good luck, Kosovo. But I think you’ll need more than luck to survive.