separatism

Other Definitions
separatism (dict)

Separatism involves setting oneself or others apart.

Political/Administrative separatism

Political separatism may involve attempts to obtain sovereignty and to split a territory or a group of people (usually a people with a distinctive national consciousness) from one another (or one nation from another. One type of example involves colonies gaining independence from a metropolis). Separatist groups themselves often reject the term separatism: they may consider it pejorative, and prefer more neutral terms such as self-determination. Separatist movements often operate using strictly constitutional and peaceful methods. The province of Quebec in Canada has featured a generally peaceful separatist movement of varying intensity in since (say) 1960 (with a brief period of violence culminating in the October Crisis of 1970). Broadly peaceful movements ended in the break-up of Czechoslovakia and of the Soviet Union. Singapore also peacefully seceded from the Malaysian Federation. The formation of the Confederate States of America in 1861 occasioned major warfare only after a series of arguably constitutional and orderly seccessions. Separatism can also often take the form of a violent response to a past military takeover. Around the world many terrorist groups espouse separatism as the "only" way to achieve their goal of national liberation. These include the Basque ETA in France and Spain, Sikh separatists in India during the 1980s, the IRA in Ireland and the Front de Libration du Qubec in the 1960s, culminating in the October Crisis in 1970. These guerrilla campaigns can also lead to full-blown civil wars, as has happened in Chechnya. Violence usually diminishes when there exist political means that would-be separatists can use to gain more political and economic autonomy within the current constitutional order. Free elections and referenda sometimes help to reduce tensions. Very few countries acknowledge their potential divisibility, however. The wars erupting with the break-up of Yugoslavia exemplify this, despite constitutional provisions in the former Yugoslavia that theoretically allowed division and referenda.

Motivations for separatism

Separatist movements often have a least a superficial basis in nationalism or in religious fervour. More often than not, however, feelings of inadequate political clout and perceived economic (dis)advantage play an important role. Economics proved a factor in the break-up of Czechoslovakia; a principal cause involved Slovakia's reluctance to abandon state-run industries, the core of its (regional) economy. Bohemia and Moravia -- the areas of the future Czech Republic -- had a greater willingness to experiment with the idea of a free market, and thus the countries parted. Quebec also provides an example of how political marginalisation can lead to separatist ambitions. Throughout the first century of Canadian Confederation from 1867, a small minority of Anglophone Montrealers dominated the province politically and economically. Rejection of this status quo led to the growth of Quebec-first separatist groups in the 1960s and 1970s. Spain's Basque areas, which have not had independence for millennia, developed violent separatist groups in reaction to the violent suppression of Francisco Franco's regime. A similar pattern emerged in Ethiopia, where Eritrean rebels expressed far more anger at despotism and corruption than passion about the nation of Eritrea, which had not previously had a long or distinctive history. The nations of the northern Italian peninsula maintained political independence for centuries (for example Veneto had a separate identity from the 10th to 19th centuries as the Republic of Venice, Liguria acted independently for the best part of seven centuries -- see Republic of Genoa). The separatism of northern Italy has not only economic roots, but also linguistic (associated with the Gallo-romance language group) and cultural ones.

Countries dismembered by separatist movements since (say) 1990

Czechoslovakia — split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Ethiopia — separation of Eritrea
Indonesia — separation of East Timor
Yugoslavia — split into Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro)
Soviet Union — split into Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan

Entities which have proclaimed independence without gaining international recognition as independent countries

See also: List of unrecognized countries

Countries with separatist movements

Angola — Cabinda
Belgium — Both Flemish and Walloon separatists exist, but the Flemish have more prominence (See Flemish movement)
Bosnia and Herzegovina — Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks
Burma — Karens (Karen National Union, east Burma) and Kachin.
Canada — Province of Quebec (FLQ, Parti Québécois, Bloc Québécois), Western Canada (Separation Party of Alberta, Western Independence Party)
China — Taiwan, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang (East Turkestan Islamic Movement)
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Katanga area
France — Corsica, Brittany, and Savoy
Germany — Bavaria, Alemannic Separatism
India — Kashmir, Sikhs, Bodoland, Assam (or "Asom") and Nagaland
Indonesia — Aceh, Riau, West Papua, Moluccas
Iraq — Kurds and Shiites
Iran — Kurds, Arabs and Azeris
Israel — Palestinians
Italy — Padania, (Lega Nord), South Tyrol, Sicily
Nigeria— Biafra
Morocco — Polisario front in Western Sahara
Pakistan — Kashmir
Philippines — Muslim separatists in the south, (Moro)
Russia — Chechnya
Serbia and Montenegro — Kosovo (Kosovo Liberation Army) and Montenegro
Senegal — Casamance
Somalia — Somaliland
South Africa — Zulu areas
Spain — Basque (ETA) region, Catalonia, and Galicia
Sri Lanka — Tamils (Tamil Tigers)
Sudan — Tribal animist and Christian south
St. Kitts and Nevis — Nevis
Sweden — Terra Scania
Syria — Kurds
Thailand — Malay separatists in southern provinces
Turkey — Kurds
United Kingdom — Northern Ireland (IRA, Sinn Fin, Social Democratic and Labour Party), Scotland (Scottish National Party), Wales, and Cornwall
United States — Alaska, Cascadia, Hawaii and Puerto Rico

Fictional separatist organisations

Star Wars - Confederacy of Independent Systems

Ethnic/racial separatism

Ethnic separatism can refer to groups that attempt to separate themselves culturally and economically or racially, though not always seeking political autonomy. Note the history of apartheid. Racially-based groups may seek to isolate themselves from other groups, for example groups supporting white separatism or black separatism. See identity politics and racial separatism

Religious separatism

Religious groups whose members believe they should not interact with anyone except co-religionists tend to break into plethoras of sects. Religious separatism has become a particular feature of those Protestant churches in which ecclesiatical government and theological authority resides at the local, congregational level. Compare the religious landscape of 15th-century Europe with that of 21st-century North America. And see shunning as a potential tool of separation. Those who advocate a strict separation of church and state often term themselves "separationists" (with "accommodationists" as the converse).

Social separatism

Lesbian-feminist separatism refers to the use of sexual orientation as a particular for of separatist political statement. See for example Lesbian separatism. A social class or caste system, as in India, can develop into well-defined separate social routines and strict boundaries within the same general geographical area. In such cases hegemonic groups may seek to perpetuate their privileges by preaching and enforcing rigid social separatism.