Separatism
Separatism is a political concept where a group—often defined by shared ethnic, racial, linguistic, geographical, or religious characteristics—seeks to gain independence from a larger governing body. This pursuit may involve striving for self-governance or creating distinct social structures that preserve the group's identity and protect it from outside cultural influences. While some separatist movements may escalate to revolutions or civil wars, others may manifest in less extreme forms, potentially leading to localized violence.
In the United States, separatist movements can be found among both white and black communities, often in opposition to one another, as well as in militia and survivalist groups. However, these movements tend to lack broad public support due to the country's diverse and pluralistic society, where individuals often identify with multiple groups. Consequently, while the U.S. government may tolerate expressions of separatism, it does so within the bounds of maintaining public order and safety. Understanding the nuances of separatism is essential for recognizing its impact on social dynamics and governance.
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Separatism
As a concept, separatism may be defined as the goal or policy of a group of people—usually united by ethnic or racial, linguistic, geographical, and/or religious bonds—that wishes to free itself from the rule of a different people and to establish an independent form of self-government or that, lacking the capacity to free itself from the government of an existing state, attempts to establish exclusive or segregated social mechanisms in which to express and to preserve the group’s common identity and to insulate the group from wider cultural influences. Full-blown separatism can lead to revolution and civil war. Less extreme versions of separatism can lead to localized violence.
In the United States, white and black separatist movements exist, often in opposition to one another. The militia and survivalist movements reflect a similar mentality. Separatism of these sorts does not appeal to the majority of Americans. Moreover, owing to the distinctive pluralism of American society, the U.S. government tolerates such group expressions as long as they do not threaten public order or safety. Because most Americans are members of many groups with cross-cutting interests, separatist movements have a difficult time winning wider public participation or support.
Bibliography
Brown, Brian A. Separatism. Dawson Creek: Echo, 1976. Print.
Hall, Raymond L. Black Separatism and Social Reality: Rhetoric and Reason. Burlington: Pergamon, 2013. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 19 May. 2015.
Roehner, Bertrand M., and Leonard J. Rahilly. Separatism and Integration: A Study in Analytical History. Lanham: Rowman, 2002. Print.
Siroky, David S., and John Cuffe. “Lost Autonomy, Nationalism and Separatism.” Comparative Political Studies 48.1 (2015): 3–34. Political Science Complete. Web. 19 May. 2015.
Spencer, Metta, ed. Separatism: Democracy and Disintegration. Lanham: Rowman, 1998. Print.