Regionalism,
autonomism,
separatism and
nationalism are interrelated concepts, yet they often have different and sometimes opposite meanings. For instance, in
Spain "regionalism" is regarded as strongly associated with "nationalism" and, often, "separatism", whereas in
Italy, it is generally seen as a synonym of "
federalism" and the opposite of "nationalism". In some cases movements or parties campaigning for independence may push for federalism or autonomy within the pre-existing
nation state. In
developed,
Western,
liberal-democratic countries, secessionist parties include the
Parti Québécois in
Quebec (
Canada), the
Scottish National Party and the
Scottish Greens in
Scotland (
United Kingdom),
Plaid Cymru in
Wales (United Kingdom) and, to some extent,
Sinn Féin in
Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), the
New Flemish Alliance and
Vlaams Belang in
Flanders (
Belgium),
Corsica Libera in
Corsica (
France), the
Basque Nationalist Party and
Euskal Herria Bildu in the
Basque Country (Spain and France),
Together for Catalonia, the
Republican Left of Catalonia and
Popular Unity Candidacy in
Catalonia and the
Catalan Countries (Spain and France), the
Galician Nationalist Bloc in
Galicia (Spain),
South Tyrolean Freedom and
Die Freiheitlichen in
South Tyrol (Italy), factions of
Lega and several minor parties in
northern Italy (Italy), nominally the
Sardinian Action Party and several minor parties in
Sardinia. In
developing countries they include the
Polisario Front in
Western Sahara (
Morocco), the
National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad in
Azawad (
Mali), the
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda in the
Cabinda Province (
Angola), all
national liberation movements and the
Democratic Progressive Party in
Taiwan (a country whose sovereignty is disputed by
China). The
European Free Alliance is a
European political party, gathering mainly regionalist parties, including the aforementioned Scottish National Party,
Plaid Cymru, New Flemish Alliance, Republican Left of Catalonia and many others. Federalist and/or autonomist regional parties include the
Coalition Avenir Québec in Quebec (Canada), the
New Progressive Party and the
Popular Democratic Party in
Puerto Rico (a
commonwealth of the
United States),
Femu a Corsica and the
Party of the Corsican Nation in Corsica (France),
Lega Nord and its sister/successor party
Lega in
northern Italy (the party has, at times, advocated
Padania's independence and its "national section" in
Veneto,
Liga Veneta, is a mild proponent of Venetian independence), the
Martinican Progressive Party in
Martinique and the
Communist Party of Réunion in
Réunion (both
French overseas territories) and the
New Macau Association in
Macau (China). In some countries, the development of regionalist politics may be a prelude to further demands for greater autonomy or even full separation, especially when ethnic, cultural and economic disparities are present. This was demonstrated, among other examples, in the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. == Regional vs. regionalist ==