Souverainism
Encyclopedia
Souverainism or sovereigntism is a doctrine which supports acquiring or preserving political independence of a nation or a region. It opposes federalism
and approaches independentist movements.
, such political movements aim at ‘‘Europe of Nations’’, so that every country could see its independence and differences respected.
Supporters of the doctrine regard themselves as Eurorealists, opposed to the Eurofederalists, and call for confederal Europe
. Souverainism is thus opposed to federalism, and some estimate that it involves sometimes nationalism
, particularly in France
where the parties lean on it (cf lists below).
Citation on souverainisme: «The sole reasonable economic policy is the following: as for the foreign, to protect, and interior, set free. The unequal competition and suffocation by the taxes and charges are two faces of the same crisis. The socialism à la French and the Brussels globalisation combine their devastating effects. » - Philippe de Villiers
- Le Figaro, February 16, 2006 (regarding Bolkestein Directive)
, where numerous political movements adhere to it:
, souverainisme or sovereigntism refers to the Quebec sovereignty movement
, which argues for Quebec to become sovereign
and not remain part of the Canadian federation
. Many leaders in the movement, notably René Lévesque
, have preferred the terms sovereignty and sovereigntist
over alternative labels of independentist and separatist, although this terminology may be objected to by opponents.
During the 2008 Canadian parliamentary dispute, Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
controversially used the word "separatist" in the English version of a televised speech to the nation, but used the French word for "sovereigntist" in the French version.
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
and approaches independentist movements.
Europe
In EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, such political movements aim at ‘‘Europe of Nations’’, so that every country could see its independence and differences respected.
Supporters of the doctrine regard themselves as Eurorealists, opposed to the Eurofederalists, and call for confederal Europe
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Souverainism is thus opposed to federalism, and some estimate that it involves sometimes nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, particularly in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where the parties lean on it (cf lists below).
Citation on souverainisme: «The sole reasonable economic policy is the following: as for the foreign, to protect, and interior, set free. The unequal competition and suffocation by the taxes and charges are two faces of the same crisis. The socialism à la French and the Brussels globalisation combine their devastating effects. » - Philippe de Villiers
Philippe de Villiers
Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
- Le Figaro, February 16, 2006 (regarding Bolkestein Directive)
France
The souverainiste doctrine is particularly influential in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where numerous political movements adhere to it:
French souverainist movements
- Arise the RepublicArise the RepublicArise the Republic is a political party in France that used to be a faction within the ruling Union for a Popular Movement . The party claims itself to be a traditional Gaullist group....
(GaullistGaullismGaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
) and (RepublicanismRepublicanismRepublicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
) - Mouvement pour la France (nationalistNationalismNationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
) - Rassemblement pour la France (GaullistGaullismGaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
) - Arise the RepublicArise the RepublicArise the Republic is a political party in France that used to be a faction within the ruling Union for a Popular Movement . The party claims itself to be a traditional Gaullist group....
(GaullistGaullismGaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
) - Mouvement Républicain et CitoyenCitizen and Republican MovementThe Citizen and Republican Movement is a political party in France. The party replaced, in 2002, the Citizens' Movement founded by Jean-Pierre Chevènement, who left the Socialist Party in 1993 due to his opposition to the Persian Gulf War and to the Maastricht Treaty...
(left-wingLeft-wing politicsIn politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
souverainist) - Rassemblement démocrateRassemblement démocrateDemocratic Rally is a monarchist political group established in 2004. It aims at converging all those who are attached to the conceptions of modern monarchy and remain faithful to the Capetian dynasty. RD tries to promote a new democracy. The movement is led by souverainist Philippe Cartellier....
(centristCentrismIn politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
and monarchistMonarchismMonarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
souverainist) - Action FrançaiseAction FrançaiseThe Action Française , founded in 1898, is a French Monarchist counter-revolutionary movement and periodical founded by Maurice Pujo and Henri Vaugeois and whose principal ideologist was Charles Maurras...
(monarchist) - Nouvelle Action RoyalisteNouvelle Action RoyalisteThe Nouvelle Action Royaliste , is a monarchist political movement marked by a will to found a constitutional monarchy in France.-History:...
(monarchist)
Nationalist movements
- National Front
- National Republican MovementNational Republican MovementThe National Republican Movement is a French nationalist political party, created by Bruno Mégret with former Club de l'Horloge alumni, Yvan Blot and Jean-Yves Le Gallou, as a split from Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front on January 24, 1999.Although political observers have considered the MNR to...
Serbian souverainist movements
- Serbian Radical PartySerbian Radical PartyThe Serbian Radical Party is a far-right Serbian nationalist political party in Serbia, founded in 1991. Currently the second-largest party in the Serbian National Assembly, it has branches in three of the nations that currently border Serbia – all former federal republics of Yugoslavia...
(nationalistNationalismNationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
) - Democratic Party of SerbiaDemocratic Party of SerbiaThe Democratic Party of Serbia is a political party in Serbia.-Foundation:The Democratic Party of Serbia was founded when a faction of the Democratic Party that supported its involvement in the Democratic Movement of Serbia split from the party and formed their own in 1992.Soon after the March...
Greek souverainist movements
- Communist Party of GreeceCommunist Party of GreeceFounded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
(left-wingLeft-wing politicsIn politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
souverainist)
Icelandic souverainist movements
- Coalition for the Sovereignty of IcelandSovereign Union (Iceland)The Coalition for the Sovereignty of Iceland is an Icelandic political organization.The more notable projects the party has been behind is the petition against the Icesave-agreement in 2011.-External links:* *...
Quebec
In the Canadian province of QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, souverainisme or sovereigntism refers to the Quebec sovereignty movement
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
, which argues for Quebec to become sovereign
Sovereign
A sovereign is the supreme lawmaking authority within its jurisdiction.Sovereign may also refer to:*Monarch, the sovereign of a monarchy*Sovereign Bank, banking institution in the United States*Sovereign...
and not remain part of the Canadian federation
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
. Many leaders in the movement, notably René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
, have preferred the terms sovereignty and sovereigntist
Sovereigntist
Sovereigntism may refer to:*Souverainism, a doctrine which supports acquiring or preserving political independence of a nation or a region*Quebec sovereignty movement...
over alternative labels of independentist and separatist, although this terminology may be objected to by opponents.
During the 2008 Canadian parliamentary dispute, Canadian Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
controversially used the word "separatist" in the English version of a televised speech to the nation, but used the French word for "sovereigntist" in the French version.