Supporter is the general term for one who allies himself with a cause or show allegiance to its leader.

• Henry (later Sir Henry) Parkes was one of the early supporters of the movement for federation of the Australian states, and subsequently became its leader; A political candidate needs the help of his supporters to win an election.

Follower and disciple are related in that they emphasize devotion to a leader rather than to his doctrine or cause. A follower plays a more passive role than a supporter or a disciple . A disciple is one who studies under a leader or teacher of great influence and puts the leader’s teachings into practice, perhaps to the point of proselytizing for him: Christ had thousands of followers , but it was his disciples who spread his doctrines.

Adherent places emphasis on support of the doctrines rather than of the leader himself. Thus, one would call Lenin an adherent of Marxism (not an adherent of Marx).

Partisan means a zealous supporter of a person or cause, right or wrong, sometimes to the point of wrong-headedness and obstinacy: The candidate is a strong partisan of the party leader and his domestic policy; a violent partisan of the conservative cause. Since World War II, partisan has taken on the additional meaning of a dedicated rebel who supports his cause by guerrilla tactics: Italian partisans helped the Allies conquer northern Italy.