the government and control of a country undertaken by its own inhabitants/people, especially after a period of being controlled by an outside authority;
e.g. The country took some years to strengthen its self-government after being a colony for so long.
(noun)
(dated) a person's restraint or control over their emotions, desires, impulses, and resulting actions;
e.g. He had become a master of self-government after being forced to hide his feelings for so long.