separationists
Those seeking independence
Separationists are people who advocate for separation—typically the withdrawal of a group, region, or entity from a larger political unit.
The term overlaps with secessionists but can apply more broadly: separationists in Catalonia, Quebec separationists.
It also describes those favoring strict separation of church and state.
Sudden separation from group
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- disunionState of being divided
referendum · sovereignty · self-determination · independence · rebellion · insurgency · schism · cessation
Advocates for homeland interests
- autonomistsAdvocates for self-rule
- federalistsPro-strong-government faction
- decentralistsAdvocates for dispersed authority
- confederalistsAdvocates for allied autonomy
partisans · dissidents · radicals · Catalans · Quebecois · Kurds · Scots
Formal organizational fracture
- riftCrack or estrangement
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- balkanizationDivision into hostile units
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
polarization · factionalism · disintegration · cleavage · bifurcation · partition · fracturing · disunity
People working for causes
- campaignersPeople promoting a cause
- proponentsSupporters of a position
- championsContest winners, top performers
- supportersPeople who back something
backers · defenders · promoters · lobbyists · spokespersons · endorsers · sympathizers · apologists
breakaway
Sudden separation from group
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
disunion · referendum · sovereignty · self-determination · independence · rebellion · insurgency · schism · cessation · severance
nationalists
Advocates for homeland interests
- autonomistsAdvocates for self-rule
- federalistsPro-strong-government faction
- decentralistsAdvocates for dispersed authority
confederalists · partisans · dissidents · radicals · Catalans · Quebecois · Kurds · Scots
schism
Formal organizational fracture
- riftCrack or estrangement
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- balkanizationDivision into hostile units
splintering · polarization · factionalism · disintegration · cleavage · bifurcation · partition · fracturing · disunity · sectarianism
activists
People working for causes
- campaignersPeople promoting a cause
- proponentsSupporters of a position
- championsContest winners, top performers
supporters · backers · defenders · promoters · lobbyists · spokespersons · endorsers · sympathizers · apologists · exponents
separationistsunionists
Members of worker collectives
federalists · integrationists · centralists · annexationists · loyalists
separationistsintegrationists
Advocates for ending separation
assimilationists · collectivists · communitarians · globalists · cosmopolitans