A referendum is an important way to achieve the legitimacy of national independence. Endorsement by the United States and the EU countries，as well as other major powers，is always a necessary precondition for new countries to receive global recognition. During the past year，referenda have become a new focal point in international politics. The most significant two cases took place in Crimea and in Scotland. The former resulted in many serious consequences：Crimea broke away from Ukraine，joined Russia，and the major powers embarked on fierce competition over Ukraine. In this situation，some other nations or areas were encouraged to seek independence by conducting a referendum. The latter case did not lead to the independence of Scotland，but it revealed some experience for other countries to cope with independence/separatism issues by peaceful，rational，and transparent methods. Independence/separatism movements exist in many countries，especially in the areas of the former Soviet Union and some EU countries. Therefore，in the coming years the frequency of independence referenda will increase，and countries suffering threats from separatist forces will face more pressures to maintain unity.