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Regionalism (politics)

February 15, 2024

Regionalism is a political ideology that seeks to increase the political power, influence and self-determination of the people of one or more subnational regions. It focuses on the "development of a political or social system based on one or more" regions[1][2] and/or the national, normative or economic interests of a specific region, group of regions or another subnational entity,[3] gaining strength from or aiming to strengthen the "consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population",[1] similarly to nationalism. More specifically, "regionalism refers to three distinct elements: movements demanding territorial autonomy within unitary states; the organization of the central state on a regional basis for the delivery of its policies including regional development policies; political decentralization and regional autonomy".[4]

Regions may be delineated by administrative divisions, culture, language and religion, among others. Regionalists' demands occur in "strong" forms (such as sovereigntism, separatism, sovereignty, secession and independence), as well as more "moderate" campaigns for greater autonomy (such as states' rights, decentralization or devolution). Strictly speaking, regionalists favour confederations over unitary nation states with strong central governments. They may, however, embrace intermediate forms of federalism. Proponents of regionalism usually claim that strengthening the governing bodies and political powers within a region, at the expense of a centralized government, will benefit local populations by improving regional or local economies, in terms of better fiscal responsibility, regional development, allocation of resources, implementation of localist policies and plans, competitiveness among regions and, ultimately, the whole country, consistent with the principle of subsidiarity.

Definition edit

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 and the Republican Left of Catalonia 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).

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 edit

Political parties that are regional are not necessarily regionalist parties. A "regional party" is any political party with its political base in a single region, whatever its objectives and platform may be, whereas "regionalist" parties are a subset of regional parties that specifically campaign for greater autonomy or independence in their region.[citation needed]

Because regional parties – including regionalist parties – often cannot receive enough votes or legislative seats to be politically powerful, they may join political alliances or seek to be part of a coalition government. Notable examples include the Sinn Féin's participation in the Northern Ireland Executive since 1999, the New Flemish Alliance's participation in the Federal Government of Belgium in 2014–2019 and Lega's frequent participation in the Italian government.

Examples of regional parties that do not generally campaign for greater autonomy or federalism include most provincial parties in Canada, most regional and minority parties in Europe, notably including the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (Germany), most political parties in Belgium, most political parties in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), the Istrian Democratic Assembly in Istria (Croatia), the Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar in Primorje-Gorski Kotar (Croatia) and most political political parties in India.

Regional parties with an autonomist/federalist or separatist agendas have included the aforementioned Bloc Québécois, Lega Nord, the Vlaams Belang, the New Flemish Alliance, the defunct Catalan European Democratic Party, the Republican Left of Catalonia, the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin

See also edit

Lists edit

Lists of regional and regionalist parties are available at:

Concepts edit

Countries edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Definition of REGIONALISM". www.merriam-webster.com.
  2. ^ Meadwell, Hudson (1991). "A Rational Choice Approach to Political Regionalism". Comparative Politics. 23 (4): 401–421. doi:10.2307/422257. JSTOR 422257.
  3. ^ "Regionalism in Politics: Definition, Characteristics & Types - Video & Lesson Transcript". Study.com.
  4. ^ "The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination". pesd.princeton.edu.

Sources edit

  • Smith-Peter, Susan (2018). Imagining Russian Regions: Subnational Identity and Civil Society in Nineteenth-Century Russia. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004353497
  • Smith-Peter, Susan (2018) "The Six Waves of Russian Regionalism in European Context, 1830-2000," in Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces, ed. Edith W. Clowes, Gisela Erbsloh and Ani Kokobobo. New York: Routledge, 15-43.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Regionalism at Wikimedia Commons

February 15, 2024
regionalism, politics, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, . This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Regionalism politics news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s factual accuracy is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced October 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Regionalism is a political ideology that seeks to increase the political power influence and self determination of the people of one or more subnational regions It focuses on the development of a political or social system based on one or more regions 1 2 and or the national normative or economic interests of a specific region group of regions or another subnational entity 3 gaining strength from or aiming to strengthen the consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population 1 similarly to nationalism More specifically regionalism refers to three distinct elements movements demanding territorial autonomy within unitary states the organization of the central state on a regional basis for the delivery of its policies including regional development policies political decentralization and regional autonomy 4 Regions may be delineated by administrative divisions culture language and religion among others Regionalists demands occur in strong forms such as sovereigntism separatism sovereignty secession and independence as well as more moderate campaigns for greater autonomy such as states rights decentralization or devolution Strictly speaking regionalists favour confederations over unitary nation states with strong central governments They may however embrace intermediate forms of federalism Proponents of regionalism usually claim that strengthening the governing bodies and political powers within a region at the expense of a centralized government will benefit local populations by improving regional or local economies in terms of better fiscal responsibility regional development allocation of resources implementation of localist policies and plans competitiveness among regions and ultimately the whole country consistent with the principle of subsidiarity Contents 1 Definition 2 Regional vs regionalist 3 See also 3 1 Lists 3 2 Concepts 3 3 Countries 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksDefinition editRegionalism 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 Quebecois 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 Fein 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 and the Republican Left of Catalonia 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 Federalist and or autonomist regional parties include the Coalition Avenir Quebec 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 Reunion in Reunion 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 editPolitical parties that are regional are not necessarily regionalist parties A regional party is any political party with its political base in a single region whatever its objectives and platform may be whereas regionalist parties are a subset of regional parties that specifically campaign for greater autonomy or independence in their region citation needed Because regional parties including regionalist parties often cannot receive enough votes or legislative seats to be politically powerful they may join political alliances or seek to be part of a coalition government Notable examples include the Sinn Fein s participation in the Northern Ireland Executive since 1999 the New Flemish Alliance s participation in the Federal Government of Belgium in 2014 2019 and Lega s frequent participation in the Italian government Examples of regional parties that do not generally campaign for greater autonomy or federalism include most provincial parties in Canada most regional and minority parties in Europe notably including the Christian Social Union in Bavaria Germany most political parties in Belgium most political parties in Northern Ireland United Kingdom the Istrian Democratic Assembly in Istria Croatia the Alliance of Primorje Gorski Kotar in Primorje Gorski Kotar Croatia and most political political parties in India Regional parties with an autonomist federalist or separatist agendas have included the aforementioned Bloc Quebecois Lega Nord the Vlaams Belang the New Flemish Alliance the defunct Catalan European Democratic Party the Republican Left of Catalonia the Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru and Sinn FeinSee also editLists edit Lists of regional and regionalist parties are available at List of political parties campaigning for self government List of historical separatist movements Category Independence movements Category Regionalist parties Category Political parties of minorities List of regional and minority parties in Europe Lists of active separatist movements European Free AllianceConcepts edit Self determination Self governance Autonomism Subnational citizenship Decentralization Federalism Separatism Secession Sovereigntism Glocalization Think globally act locally Localism Parochialism Minority group Ethnicity Ethnic party Country identity Countries edit Australia West Australian secessionism Tasmanian secessionism Proposals for new Australian states Belgium communities regions and language areas Languages Economic regional differences Brazil regions Languages nationalisms and regionalisms Sao Paulo independence movement The South Is My Country Canada languages Provinces Maritime Rights Movement Quebec nationalism Quebec sovereignty movement Western alienation Alberta separatism Cascadia movement China languages Ethnic groups nationalisms and regionalisms Hong Kong independence Hong Kong Autonomy Movement Inner Mongolian independence movement Taiwanese nationalism Taiwan independence movement Tibetan independence movement East Turkestan independence movement Croatia minority languages nationalisms and regionalisms Dalmatianism Istrianism Denmark manguages dialects Realm nationalisms and regionalismsn Faroese nationalism Faroese independence movement Greenlandic independence France nationalisms and regionalisms Basque nationalism Breton nationalism Corsican nationalism Occitan nationalism Germany dialects nationalisms and reginonalisms Bavarian nationalism Italy languages North South divide nationalisms and regionalisms Friuli Movement Lombard nationalism Padanian nationalism Sardinian nationalism Sicilian nationalism Southern Italy autonomist movements South Tyrolean independence movement Venetian nationalism Romania languages ethnic minorities nationalisms and regionalisms Szekely autonomy movement Russia languages nationalisms and regionalisms Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Circassian nationalism Siberian regionalism insurgency in the North Caucasus South Africa languages Afrikaner nationalism Volkstaat Spain languages National and regional identity in Spain Andalusian nationalism Aragonese nationalism Asturian nationalism Basque nationalism Canarian nationalism Castilian nationalism Catalan nationalism Galician nationalism Leonesism Valencian nationalism etc United Kingdom countries Languages North South divide nationalisms Cornish nationalism devolution English nationalism independence Irish nationalism republicanism Scottish nationalism independence Ulster nationalism Welsh nationalism independence United States secessionism Free State Project Alaskan Independence Party Yes California Cascadia movement Hawaiian sovereignty movement Neo Confederates Northwest Territorial Imperative Puerto Rico independence movement Texas secession movements Second Vermont RepublicReferences edit a b Definition of REGIONALISM www merriam webster com Meadwell Hudson 1991 A Rational Choice Approach to Political Regionalism Comparative Politics 23 4 401 421 doi 10 2307 422257 JSTOR 422257 Regionalism in Politics Definition Characteristics amp Types Video amp Lesson Transcript Study com The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self Determination pesd princeton edu Sources editSmith Peter Susan 2018 Imagining Russian Regions Subnational Identity and Civil Society in Nineteenth Century Russia Leiden Brill ISBN 9789004353497 Smith Peter Susan 2018 The Six Waves of Russian Regionalism in European Context 1830 2000 in Russia s Regional Identities The Power of the Provinces ed Edith W Clowes Gisela Erbsloh and Ani Kokobobo New York Routledge 15 43 External links edit nbsp Media related to Regionalism at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Regionalism politics amp oldid 1205114095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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