expulsitism

Expulsitism is a term used to describe a political ideology or policy that advocates for the expulsion of specific groups of people from a territory. This expulsion can be voluntary, meaning individuals are encouraged or incentivized to leave, or involuntary, involving forced removal. The groups targeted for expulsion are typically defined by shared characteristics such as ethnicity, nationality, religion, or political affiliation.

The motivations behind expulsitism vary. It can arise from nationalist sentiments, a desire for ethnic or cultural homogeneity, or a perceived threat posed by the targeted group. Historically, expulsitism has manifested in various forms, including ethnic cleansing, forced migration, and state-sponsored emigration. Critics often point to the human rights violations and humanitarian crises associated with expulsivist policies.

The term itself is relatively recent, gaining more prominence in academic and political discourse to describe contemporary or historical instances of group expulsion. While sometimes conflated with related concepts like deportation or exile, expulsitism often implies a broader, more systematic, and ideologically driven policy aimed at fundamentally altering the demographic composition of a region through the removal of a defined population segment. The justification for such policies frequently centers on notions of national identity, security, or the preservation of a particular social order.