Question

Write short note.

Regionalism

Answer 1

1. Regionalism refers to loyalty to one’s own state or region before one’s nation. This interferes with national integration to a great extent.
2. In regionalism, the history of a particular region is glorified. It is often misused to stress divisive forces, thus ignoring the common cultural legacy.
3. It emerges due to the desire of people speaking one language to have one state. There is also a strong urge to give priority to the economic development of one’s own region. This leads to interstate rivalries.
4. As long as this inter-state rivalry is economic and social, it is healthy. But when it takes political overtones, it becomes very dangerous. 
5. Political parties give more importance and weightage to regional matters and problems rather than the nation as a whole. Regionalism thus strengthens sectarian biases by political parties.
6. Inter-regional tensions escalate over economic, political and such issues. This leads to regional movements for state rights and militant movements for separatism. All this, if unchecked, can strike at the very root of democracy.