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{{Short description|Ideology that seeks to promote subnational administrative division interests}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=February 2014}}
{{Disputed|date=October 2008}}
}}
{{Politics}}
'''Regionalism''' is a [[political ideology]] that seeks to increase the [[Power (social and political)|political power]], influence and self-determination of the people of one or more [[Administrative division|subnational regions]]. It focuses on the "development of a political or social system based on one or more" [[region#Political regions|regions]]<ref name="Merriam-Webster">{{Cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regionalism |title=Definition of REGIONALISM |website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |jstor=422257|title=A Rational Choice Approach to Political Regionalism |journal=Comparative Politics |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=401–421 |last1=Meadwell |first1=Hudson |year=1991 |doi=10.2307/422257}}</ref> and/or the national, normative or economic interests of a specific region, group of regions or another subnational entity,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://study.com/academy/lesson/regionalism-in-politics-definition-characteristics-types.html |title=Regionalism in Politics: Definition, Characteristics & Types - Video & Lesson Transcript |website=Study.com}}</ref> gaining strength from or aiming to strengthen the "consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population",<ref name="Merriam-Webster"/> 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".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pesd.princeton.edu/?q=node/264 |title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination |website=pesd.princeton.edu}}</ref>

Regions may be delineated by [[administrative division]]s, [[cultural area|culture]], [[Regional language|language]] and [[Religion and geography#Community and identity|religion]], among others. Regionalists' demands occur in "strong" forms, such as [[sovereignty]], [[separatism]], [[secession]] and [[independence]], as well as more moderate campaigns for greater [[autonomous administrative division|autonomy]] (such as [[states' rights]], [[decentralization]] or [[devolution]]). Strictly, regionalists favour [[confederation]]s over [[unitary state|unitary]] [[nation state]]s with strong [[central government]]s. 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 [[balanced budget|fiscal responsibility]], [[regional development]], allocation of resources, implementation of [[Localism (politics)|localist]] policies and plans, [[competition (companies)|competitiveness]] among regions and, ultimately, the whole country, consistent with the principle of [[subsidiarity]].

== Regionalism, autonomism, and nationalism ==
Regionalism, [[Autonomism (political doctrine)|autonomism]], [[secession]]ism, 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, "secessionism", 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 country|developed]], [[Western world|Western]], [[Liberal democracy|liberal-democratic]] countries, secessionist parties include the ''[[Parti Québécois]]'' in [[Quebec]] ([[Canada]]), the [[Basque Nationalist Party]] and ''[[EH Bildu|Euskal Herria Bildu]]'' in the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] (Spain and [[France]]), the [[New Flemish Alliance]] and [[Vlaams Belang]] in [[Flanders]] ([[Belgium]]), the [[Catalan European Democratic Party]] and the [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] in ''[[Països Catalans]]'' (Spain and France), the [[Galician Nationalist Bloc]] and the [[Galician Left Alternative]] in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] (Spain), the [[Scottish National Party]] and the [[Scottish Green Party]] in [[Scotland]], ''[[Plaid Cymru]]'' in [[Wales]] and, to some extent, ''[[Sinn Féin]]'' in [[Northern Ireland]] ([[United Kingdom]]).

In [[Developing country|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]]), and all [[Wars of national liberation|national liberation movements]].

Federalist/autonomist regional parties include the ''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]]'' in Quebec (Canada), the [[New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico]] and the [[Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)|Popular Democratic Party]] in [[Puerto Rico]] (a [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|commonwealth]] of the [[United States]]), ''[[Lega Nord]]'' in [[Northern Italy]] (the party has, at times, advocated [[Padania]]'s independence and its "national section" in [[Veneto]], ''[[Liga Veneta]]'', is a proponent of Venetian independence), the [[Party of the Corsican Nation]] in [[Corsica]] (France), the [[Martinican Progressive Party]] in [[Martinique]] and the [[Communist Party of Réunion]] in [[Réunion]] (both [[Overseas departments and territories of France|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 political parties ==
[[Political party|Political parties]] that are ''regional'' are not necessarily ''regionalist'' parties. A "regional party" is any political party with its [[Base (politics)|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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schakel |first1=Arjan H. |last2=Sharma |first2=Chanchal Kumar |last3=Swenden |first3=Wilfried |date=2019-05-27 |title=India after the 2014 general elections: BJP dominance and the crisis of the third party system |journal=Regional & Federal Studies |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=329–354 |doi=10.1080/13597566.2019.1614921 |s2cid=182486831 |issn=1359-7566 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Because regional parties – including regionalist parties – often cannot receive enough votes or legislative seats to be politically powerful, they may join [[political coalition]]s 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 Nord'''s frequent participation in the [[Council of Ministers (Italy)|Italian government]].

Examples of regional parties that do not generally campaign for greater autonomy or federalism include most [[List of political parties in Canada#Provincial and territorial parties|provincial parties in Canada]], most [[list of regional and minority parties in Europe|regional and minority parties in Europe]], notably including the [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]] ([[Germany]]), most [[political parties in Belgium|parties in Belgium]], most [[list of political parties in Northern Ireland|parties in Northern Ireland]], the [[Istrian Democratic Assembly]] in [[Istria County|Istria]] and the [[Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar]] in [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar County|Primorje-Gorski Kotar]] (both [[counties of Croatia]]), and most [[list of political parties in India|political parties]] in [[India]].

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

== See also ==

=== Lists ===
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 Alliance]]

=== Concepts ===
*[[Self-determination]]
*[[Self-governance]]
*[[Autonomism (political doctrine)|Autonomism]]
*[[Subnational citizenship]]
*[[Decentralization]]
*[[Federalism]]
*[[Separatism]]
*[[Secession]]
*[[Souverainism]]
*[[Glocalisation]]
*[[Think globally, act locally]]
*[[Localism (politics)|Localism]]
*[[Parochialism]]
*[[Ethnic group]]
*[[Minority group]]
*[[Political parties of minorities]]
*[[Country (identity)]]

=== Countries ===
*'''[[Secession in Australia|Australia]]''': [[Secessionism in Western Australia|West Australian secessionism]]; [[Secessionism in Tasmania|Tasmanian secessionism]]; [[List of proposed states of Australia|proposals for new States]]
*'''[[Belgium]]''': [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|Communities, regions and language areas]]; [[Languages of Belgium|Languages]]; [[Economy of Belgium#Regional differences|Economic regional differences]]
*'''[[Brazil]]''': [[Regions of Brazil|Regions]]; [[Languages of Brazil|Languages]]; Nationalisms and regionalisms ([[List of active separatist movements in South America#Brazil|Sao Paulo independence movement]], [[The South is My Country|South Region independence movement]])
*'''[[Canada]]''': [[Languages of Canada|Languages]]; [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Provinces]]; [[Maritime Rights Movement]]; [[Quebec nationalism]] ([[Quebec sovereignty movement]]); [[Western alienation in Canada|Western alienation]] ([[Alberta separatism]], [[Cascadia (independence movement)|Cascadian independence movement]])
*'''[[China]]''': [[Languages of China|Languages]]; [[List of ethnic groups in China and Taiwan|Ethnic groups]]; Nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Hong Kong independence movement|Hong Konger nationalism]]/[[Hong Kong autonomy movement|autonomy]], [[Inner Mongolian independence movement|Inner Mongolian nationalism]], [[Taiwanese nationalism]]/[[Taiwanese independence movement|independence movement]], [[Tibetan independence movement|Tibetan nationalism]], [[East Turkestan independence movement|Uyghur nationalism]])
*'''[[Croatia]]''': [[Minority languages of Croatia|Minority languages]]; nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Dalmatianism]], [[Istrianism]])
*'''[[Denmark]]''': [[Languages of Denmark|Languages]]; [[Danish dialects]]; [[Realm of Denmark|Realm]]; Nationalisms and regionalisms; [[Faroese nationalism]] ([[Faroese independence movement]]); [[Greenlandic nationalism]] ([[Greenlandic independence movement]])
*'''[[France]]''': Nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Basque nationalism]], [[Breton nationalism]], [[Corsican nationalism]], [[Occitan nationalism]])
*'''[[Germany]]''': [[German dialects]]; Nationalisms and reginonalisms ([[Bavarian nationalism]])
*'''[[Italy]]''': [[Languages of Italy|Languages]]; [[Economy of Italy#Southern question|North–South divide]]; Nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Friuli Movement]]; [[Lombard nationalism]]; [[Padanian nationalism]]; [[Sardinian nationalism]]; [[Sicilian nationalism]]; [[Southern Italy autonomist movements]]; [[South Tyrolean secessionist movement]]; [[Venetian nationalism]])
*'''[[Romania]]''': [[Languages of Romania|Languages]]; [[Minorities of Romania|ethnic minorities]]; nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Székely autonomy movement]])
*'''[[Russia]]''': [[Languages of Russia|Languages]]; Nationalisms and regionalisms ([[Chechen separatists|Chechen nationalism]], [[Circassian nationalism]], [[Siberian regionalism]]), [[Insurgency in the North Caucasus]]
*'''[[South Africa]]''': [[Languages of South Africa|Languages]]; [[Afrikaner nationalism]] ([[Volkstaat]])
*'''[[Spain]]''': [[Languages of Spain|Languages]]; [[Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain|Nationalisms and regionalisms]] ([[Andalusian nationalism]], [[Aragonese nationalism]], [[Asturian nationalism]], [[Basque nationalism]], [[Canarian nationalism]], [[Castilian nationalism]], [[Catalan nationalism]], [[Galician nationalism]], [[Leonesism]], [[Valencian nationalism]] etc.)
*'''[[United Kingdom]]''': [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Countries]]; [[Languages of the United Kingdom|Languages]]; [[North–South divide in the United Kingdom|North–South divide]]; [[:Template:Nationalism in the United Kingdom|Nationalisms]] ([[Cornish nationalism]]–[[Cornish Assembly|devolution]], [[English nationalism]]–[[English independence|independence]], [[Irish nationalism]]–[[Irish republicanism|republicanism]], [[Scottish nationalism]]–[[Scottish independence|independence]], [[Ulster nationalism]], [[Welsh nationalism]]–[[Welsh independence|independence]])
*'''[[United States]]''': [[Secession in the United States|Secessionism]]; [[Free State Project]], [[Alaskan independence]], [[Yes California]], [[Cascadia (independence movement)|Cascadian independence movement]], [[Hawaiian sovereignty movement]], [[Neo-Confederate]] movements, [[Northwest Territorial Imperative]], [[Independence movement in Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico independence movement]], [[Texas secession movements]], [[Second Vermont Republic]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* Smith-Peter, Susan (2018). ''Imagining Russian Regions: Subnational Identity and Civil Society in Nineteenth-Century Russia''. Leiden: [[Brill Publishers|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==
*{{Commons category-inline|Regionalism}}

{{Political ideologies}}
{{Stateless nationalism in Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Regionalism (politics)| ]]
[[Category:Political ideologies]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Decentralization]]

Regionalism (politics) - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article