confederation
Loose state union
A confederation is a loose alliance of states, organizations, or groups that join together for common purposes while retaining their individual autonomy.
Unlike a federation, where central authority is strong, a confederation keeps power largely with its members: The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that struggled to function.
The term applies beyond politics to any alliance of independent entities: a confederation of labor unions, a confederation of tribes. (Capitalized Confederation often refers to specific historical alliances.)
Temporary alliance for action
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- treatyBinding pact between nations
entente · partnership · compact · consortium · axis · syndicate · union · affiliation
Unity among allies
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- bondBinding tie or connection
- unificationMerging into one entity
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
integration · alliance · merger · amalgamation · synthesis · fusion · combination · incorporation
Supreme independent authority
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
self-determination · devolution · diplomacy · ratification · amendment · legislation
Joining into one
- commonwealthState for public good
- republicState with elected leaders
- nationSovereign political entity
- statesModes of being
cantons · provinces · territories · principality · empire · kingdom · realm · EU
Chosen representatives or assigns
- assemblyConstructing from components
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- charterFounding organizational document
- articlesWritten works or items
decentralized · autonomous · voluntary · representation · voting · veto · consensus · rotating
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- pactFormal agreement between parties
treaty · entente · partnership · compact · consortium · axis · syndicate · union · affiliation · association
solidarity
Unity among allies
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- bondBinding tie or connection
- unificationMerging into one entity
consolidation · integration · alliance · merger · amalgamation · synthesis · fusion · combination · incorporation · convergence
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
autonomy · self-determination · devolution · diplomacy · ratification · amendment · legislation
union
Joining into one
- commonwealthState for public good
- republicState with elected leaders
- nationSovereign political entity
states · cantons · provinces · territories · principality · empire · kingdom · realm · EU · Swiss
delegates
Chosen representatives or assigns
- assemblyConstructing from components
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- charterFounding organizational document
articles · decentralized · autonomous · voluntary · representation · voting · veto · consensus · rotating · secretariat
- professional organizationsprofessional association, trade unions, trade association, unions, professional society
- Old Switzerlandcantons, William Tell, crossbow, Zurich, Bern
- Swiss ConfederacyBern, Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Swiss neutrality
- Canadamaple leaf, maple syrup, hockey, beaver, Ottawa
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- International SoccerFIFA World Cup, World Cup, UEFA Euro, Copa America, Champions League
confederationcentralized government
Authority held by one body
centralized authority · federation · empire · absolute monarchy · nation-state
confederationdissolution
Breaking up completely
disunion · breakup · division · fragmentation · split
confederationdissociation
Mental separation from surroundings
disaffiliation · isolation · estrangement · severance · alienation
- Articles of ConfederationOriginal American governing charter
- German ConfederationPost-Napoleonic European league
- fathers of confederation