Question

What is Regionalism?

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘region’ means a specifically marked area or territory which has its own peculiarities and uniqueness with which someone can identify that place. Regionalism by extension means an ideology specifically aimed at a particular region.

Complete answer: Regionalism literally means relating to a specific geographical coordinate and the culture associated with it. Its use in the context of political and social scenarios means distinctions of a particular region as compared to other places over the course of history.
It is achieved through cultural preservation and autonomy on the economic front. It is also highly political in nature. For instance, the parties like AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, TDP in Telangana, JDU in Bihar, TMC in Bengal etc. are all highly regional parties. They have little significance on the national front but are regionally contained and in dominance too. This arises from the socio-culture backing they have due to their local characteristics.
It arises from multiple factors. It can be due to the history that the people of a particular region are associated with. It can also be from the isolation that comes from them not associating with the history that the other regions do. The ethnic makeup, religion specifically practised in a region, economic and resource peculiarities, administrative and political atmosphere and culture are all reasons for the rise in the feelings of regionalism.
Regionalism in extreme cases can also lead to factionalism and separatist movements like the Tamil Deam movement for a separate country for Tamilians or that of the Khalistan movement for a separate country for Sikhs. Regionalism is usually countered by an overarching nationalism, but in each individual’s imagination of their nation, regional identities continue to persist.

Note: Regionalism is not only a factor within a country. It exists on an international platform too. The impact of global economic policies and initiations by bodies like the World Trade Organisation and their regional and biased impact has led to isolating tendencies and regional dominance of some countries over others.