Regionalism (politics) facts for kids

Regionalism is a political idea where people in a specific area, called a region, want to have more control over their own government and decisions. It's about making sure the voices and needs of people in a region are heard and acted upon. Think of it like a team wanting to make its own rules for its part of the game, rather than having one coach decide everything for everyone.

This idea focuses on building a political system that works best for a particular region. It often comes from people feeling a strong connection and loyalty to their local area, similar to how people feel about their country. Regionalism can mean different things, from wanting more independence for a region to simply wanting the central government to pay more attention to regional needs and development.

Regions can be defined in many ways, like by their administrative borders, unique culture, language, or even religion. Sometimes, people want a lot of power for their region, even full independence. Other times, they just want more freedom to make decisions about local issues, like how money is spent or how local services are run. People who support regionalism often believe that giving more power to local governments helps the economy and makes life better for everyone in that region. It's about making sure decisions are made closer to the people they affect.

Regionalism, Autonomy, and Nationalism

Regionalism, the idea of autonomy (self-rule), and nationalism (strong loyalty to one's nation) are all connected, but they can mean different things. For example, in some countries like Spain, regionalism might be seen as a step towards a region becoming its own country. But in other places, like Italy, regionalism is more about sharing power between the central government and regions, which is called federalism.

Sometimes, groups that want full independence for their region might first ask for more self-rule within their current country.

Here are some examples of groups in different countries that support more regional power or even independence:

• In Canada, the Parti Québécois in Quebec wants more control for their French-speaking province.
• In Spain, groups like the Basque Nationalist Party and Euskal Herria Bildu in the Basque Country, and the Catalan European Democratic Party in Catalonia, seek more self-rule or independence.
• In the United Kingdom, the Scottish National Party in Scotland and Plaid Cymru in Wales want more power for their nations, with some supporting full independence.
• In Belgium, the New Flemish Alliance and Vlaams Belang in Flanders want more autonomy for their region.
• In Italy, Lega Nord in Northern Italy has sometimes pushed for more independence for the northern regions.

In some developing countries, movements like the Polisario Front in Western Sahara or the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad in Mali are fighting for their regions to become independent.

Sometimes, when there are big differences in culture, language, or money between regions, the desire for regional self-rule can grow into demands for full separation. This happened in countries like the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Regional vs. Regionalist Political Parties

It's important to know the difference between a regional political party and a regionalist political party.

A regional party is simply a political group that mainly operates and gets its support from one specific region. Their goals can be anything. For example, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria in Germany is a regional party because it's based in Bavaria, but it doesn't necessarily push for Bavaria to have more autonomy or independence.

A regionalist party is a special type of regional party. These parties specifically work to get more self-rule or even full independence for their region. They have a clear goal of increasing the region's power.

Because regional parties, especially regionalist ones, might not get enough votes to win power on their own, they often team up with other parties to form a coalition government. This allows them to have a say in how the country is run. For example, Sinn Féin has been part of the government in Northern Ireland, and Lega Nord has often joined the Italian government.

See also

• Self-determination
• Self-governance
• Autonomy
• Decentralization
• Federalism
• Separatism
• Secession
• Localism
• Ethnic group
• Minority group

Countries with Regional Movements

Many countries have regions where people seek more self-rule or have strong regional identities. Here are a few examples:

• Australia: Some areas, like Western Australia, have had movements for more independence.
• Belgium: The country is divided into different language and cultural regions, leading to discussions about power sharing.
• Canada: Quebec has a strong movement for more autonomy or independence due to its unique French culture.
• China: Regions like Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang have movements seeking more autonomy or independence.
• France: Regions like Corsica and Brittany have their own cultural identities and some movements for more self-rule.
• Germany: Bavaria has a strong regional identity, though not typically a separatist movement.
• Italy: Northern and Southern Italy have different economies and cultures, leading to some regionalist movements.
• Spain: Regions like Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia have strong nationalisms and movements for more autonomy or independence.
• United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments and strong movements for more self-rule, with some supporting full independence.
• United States: While a federal country, some states or regions have had historical or modern movements for more independence, such as Puerto Rico.