secessionists

separatists

Autonomy-seeking faction members

• nationalistsAdvocates for homeland interests
• partisansStaunch factional supporters
• dissidentsPolitical objectors

activists · militants · revolutionaries · rebels · splinter-group · underground · resistance · agitators · radicals · paramilitaries

self-determination

Control over one's fate

• sovereigntySupreme independent authority
• self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
• self-ruleGovernance without outside control

devolution · federalism · decentralization · subsidiarity · jurisdiction · statehood · nationhood · separatism · independence · breakaway

partition

Barrier separating spaces

• fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
• disunionState of being divided
• breakupRomantic relationship's termination

dissolution · bifurcation · demarcation · border · separation · disintegration · balkanization · cleavage · severance · redrawing

referendum

Direct vote on legislation

• plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
• declarationFormal public announcement
• unilateralAffecting one side only

recognition · legitimacy · annexation · sovereignty · mandate · constitution · ratification · proclamation · diplomatic · sanctions

insurgency

Armed uprising against authority

• rebellionDefiance of established power
• hostilitiesActive armed fighting
• fightingEngaging in physical conflict

militia · guerrilla · skirmish · siege · casualties · armistice · battlefront · occupation · blockade · bombardment

• resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
• factionsfactions, faction, splinter groups, splinter party, blocs
• Confederate Sympathizersfire-eaters, blockade runners, Copperheads
• Separatistsseparatists, Irish nationalists, independence activists, ETA, IRA
• Fringe Groupsmilitias, extremists, radicals, separatists, dissidents
• Nonconformistsnonconformist, rebels, rebel, misfits, misfit