communalism

[ kuh-myoon-l-iz-uh m, kom-yuh-nl- ]
/ kəˈmyun lˌɪz əm, ˈkɒm yə nl- /

noun

a theory or system of government according to which each commune is virtually an independent state and the nation is merely a federation of such states.
the principles or practices of communal ownership.
strong allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole.

Origin of communalism

First recorded in 1870–75; communal + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM communalism

com·mu·nal·ist, noun com·mu·nal·is·tic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for communalism

British Dictionary definitions for communalism

communalism
/ (ˈkɒmjʊnəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

a system or theory of government in which the state is seen as a loose federation of self-governing communities
an electoral system in which ethnic groups vote separately for their own representatives
loyalty to the interests of one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole
the practice or advocacy of communal living or ownership

Derived forms of communalism

communalist, noun communalistic, adjective