secessionism
Breaking away politically
Secessionism is the advocacy of withdrawal from a larger political entity—typically a state or region seeking independence from a nation.
The term describes both the political movement and the underlying ideology: Quebec secessionism has shaped Canadian politics for decades.
In American history, secessionism refers specifically to Southern states' push to leave the Union before the Civil War.
Control over one's fate
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- self-ruleGovernance without outside control
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- devolutionTransferring power locally
federalism · decentralization · subsidiarity · localism · self-sufficiency · empowerment · enfranchisement · nonalignment
Freedom from external control
- liberationRelease from constraint
- statehoodCondition of being sovereign
- republicState with elected leaders
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
decolonization · emancipation · freedom · referendum · plebiscite · self-determination · nation-building · recognition
Advocacy for political breakaway
- separatistAdvocate for breaking away
- splinterThin sharp fragment
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- withdrawalAct of taking away
disaffiliation · partition · dismemberment · balkanization · enclave
Barrier separating spaces
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- riftCrack or estrangement
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- disunionState of being divided
polarization · cleavage · bifurcation · severance · disintegration · dissolution · estrangement · alienation
Politics privileging ethnic identity
- nationalistOne prioritizing homeland interests
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
Armed uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
resistance · militancy · hostilities · combat · skirmish · clashes · confrontation · partisan
self-determination
Control over one's fate
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- self-ruleGovernance without outside control
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
devolution · federalism · decentralization · subsidiarity · localism · self-sufficiency · empowerment · enfranchisement · nonalignment · autarky
independence
Freedom from external control
- liberationRelease from constraint
- statehoodCondition of being sovereign
- republicState with elected leaders
sovereignty · decolonization · emancipation · freedom · referendum · plebiscite · self-determination · nation-building · recognition
separatism
Advocacy for political breakaway
- separatistAdvocate for breaking away
- splinterThin sharp fragment
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
withdrawal · disaffiliation · partition · dismemberment · balkanization · enclave
partition
Barrier separating spaces
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- riftCrack or estrangement
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
disunion · polarization · cleavage · bifurcation · severance · disintegration · dissolution · estrangement · alienation · factionalism
ethnonationalism
Politics privileging ethnic identity
- nationalistOne prioritizing homeland interests
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
ethnocentrism · identity · heritage · self-determination · homeland
insurgency
Armed uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
guerrilla · resistance · militancy · hostilities · combat · skirmish · clashes · confrontation · partisan
- decadencedecadence, decay, lavishness, aestheticism, dandyism
- nationalismpatriotism, national pride, national sovereignty, national identity, national symbols
- Identity Politicsethnic identity, ethnic pride, ethnic solidarity, ethnic nationalism, ethnonationalism
- libertarianismlibertarianism, anarcho-capitalism, classical liberalism, limited government, free market
secessionismunionism
Advocacy for worker collectives
reunification · union · national unity · federalism · annexationism
secessionismcentralism
Central authority doctrine
centralization · unification · consolidation · statism · absolutism
- secessionist movementCampaign for political separation