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An associated state is the minor partner of a formal, free relationship between a political territory with a degree of statehood and a (usually larger) nation, for which no other specific term, such as protectorate, is adopted. The details of such "free association" are specific to the countries involved. It can be seen as a post-colonial form of amical protection. It does not apply to the relationships between members of a (con)federation. All free associated states either are independent (with status of subject of international law) or has potential right to independence.
Informally it can be consider more widely: from a post-colonial form of amical protection, or protectorate, to confederation of unequal members when small participant trust to larger one some of plenipotentiaries.
Associated States of New Zealand
The Cook Islands (since 1965) and Niue (since 1974) -neither is independent- are formally to be "in free association" with New Zealand. The residents of those islands are New Zealand citizens. In contrast to the US situation, those territories are not treated by the UN as independent states, although the Cook Islands have the right to declare independence, are parties to several international conventions (such as the convention on children's rights) and regional organizations, and already maintain diplomatic missions in other countries. In early February 2006, Tokelau voted in a referendum to determine whether it wanted to remain a New Zealand territory or become the third state in free association with New Zealand. While a plurality of voters chose free association, the vote did not meet the two-thirds threshold needed for approval.
Former Commonwealth associated states
A formal association once existed between the United Kingdom and its former colonies of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent in the Caribbean, under the Associated Statehood Act 1967. Under this arrangement, each state had full control over its constitution, although all of them have since been granted full independence.
Associated States of the United States
The Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands are associated with the United States under what is known as the Compact of Free Association,giving the states international sovereignty and ultimate control over their territory. However, the governments of those areas have agreed to allow the United States to provide defense, funding grants and access to US social services for citizens of these areas.
Puerto Rico (since 1952) and Northern Mariana Islands (since 1986) are non-independent states, but freely associated with the USA. The Spanish name of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, literally "Free Associated State of Puerto Rico". However its exact status is different from that of the Pacific islands. Puerto Rico has right to full independence, but at last refererendum (1998) majority of population voted for current status.
Other comparable relationships
Some of foreign affairs of Liechtenstein (since 1923) are handled by the Swiss Confederation, in a loose form of association, although Liechtenstein is otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in all other matters.
Some of foreign affairs of Monaco (since 1814) are handled by France, in a loose form of association, although Monaco is otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in all other matters. Some of foreign affairs of Andorra (since 1278) are handled by France and Spain, in a loose form of association, although Andorra is otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in all other matters. The foreign affairs of Bhutan, a Himalayan Buddhist monarchy, are handled by the neighbouring republic India, which thus sort of succeeds to its former colonizer Britain's role as protector, in a loose form of association, although Bhutan is otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in all other matters. - Before its annexation by India, a similar relationship existed with Sikkim, which is now a constitutive state.
A federacy, a type of government where at least one of the subunits in an otherwise unitary state enjoys autonomy like a subunit within a federation, is practically very similar, with such subunit(s) having considerable independence in internal issues, except foreign affairs and defense. Yet in terms of international law it is a completely different situation because the subunits are not independent international entities. This kind of relationship, can be found in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where the continental part is organized like a unitary state and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba enjoy considerable independence.
See also
External links
Constitutional state types | Freely associated states | Political systems
Estat associat | Estado asociado | Wolne stowarzyszenie państw | Ассоциированное государство | Liitännäisvaltio
"Associated state"