In dictionaries and encyclopedias, separatism is defined as the political and practical isolation of part of the territory to obtain an independent status or a separate state. A separatist is a person participating in such a separation process.
Who were the first separatists
The peaceful church community, separated from the state English church in the 16th century, was the first voluntary association of people of the same faith, with the same interests. Members of a group of believers signed an agreement upon joining an organized community. The post of pastor was elective. The implacable attitude of the “Brownists” towards the adherents of the Catholic, Puritan and Anglican beliefs, which the separatists considered too strict and radical, complicated the lives of the members of these communities. The Plymouth colony was organized in 1620 by one such group that emigrated to America.
Who is called the separatists now
Separatists - who are they? Bandits or terrorists, as the authorities sometimes try to represent them? Or is it a group of people seeking to gain greater autonomy, more opportunities for their territory, in accordance with international law on self-determination? On the one hand, the emergence of liberation movements violates the borders and integrity of the state. On the other hand, one of the causes of separatism is a gross violation of human rights, national minorities and religious groups.
Where do the separatists come from, who is it? These people are not guests, but citizens of this state. And not always territorial schism is their goal. Most often, a separatist is a fighter for his civil, religious or national rights. This is a group of people who do not agree, do not recognize the current power in the state. The willingness to defend one’s beliefs with arms in hands is most often provoked by power structures.
Types, causes and goals of a split in society
Strikers can be divided into several groups:
- performances of the lower layers of the population - are provoked by economic factors and are suppressed mainly by force;
- representatives of the middle layer of society - advocate for their national interests with a demand for greater autonomy;
- representatives of the elite - are fighting for power, using both groups mentioned above to achieve their goals, supplying them with weapons, money, food and provoking open aggressive actions.
Legal science divides separatism into religious and ethnic. Each of these groups has its own goals, which are protected by associations of adherents. At the same time, all issues and requirements can be solved both by legal, soft, and by force methods and means.
The harm and benefits of state internal processes
The separatist is a supporter of a union that can create many acute and complex problems in the state. The most acute interstate and interethnic conflicts can be the result of extremist and nationalist actions.
However, the history of the development of world society also knows such moments when the mentioned movements played a positive role. These include the following processes:
- the end of the colonial yoke;
- the formation of many young nation-states;
- expansion of the rights of some autonomies.
The modern separatist is a participant in the complex political and legal process involved in the programs of the leaders of the movement, often pursuing their own interests.
The most dangerous for society are the extremist organizations of the separatists with their "national liberation" movements, with the violent seizure and retention of power. When they achieve ethnic or religious goals, the interests of other national groups are not taken into account.