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Regionalism is the development of political, economic, or social systems based on
loyalty to a distinct geographic region with a largely ideologically and culturally
homogeneous population. Regionalism often leads to formally agreed to
arrangements between groups of countries intended to express a common sense
of identity while achieving common goals and improving quality of life.
After the Cold War, the new political and economic world order was no longer
dominated by competition between two superpowers—the U.S. and the Soviet
Union—but by the existence of multiple powers. In the period of new regionalism,
multi-state agreements were increasingly shaped by non-economic factors such
as environmental and social policy as well as policy to encourage transparency
and accountability in governance. Several scholars have concluded that while new
regionalism was affected by globalization, globalization was similarly shaped by
regionalism. In many cases, the impacts of regionalism have furthered, changed,
or reversed the effects of both globalization and transnationalism.
Since the failure of the World Trade Organization’s 2001 Doha round of
negotiations, regionalist trade agreements have flourished. The underlying theory
behind regionalism holds that as a region grows more economically integrated, it
will inevitably become more fully politically integrated as well. Established in
1992, the European Union (EU) is an example of a multinational politically and
economically integrated entity that evolved after 40 years of economic
integration within Europe. The EU’s predecessor, the European Community, had
been a purely economic arrangement.
Regional political parties may or may not be regionalist parties. A regional political
party is any political party, which no matter its objectives and platform may be,
seeks to capture power at the state or regional level while not aspiring to control
the national government. For example, the Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man's
Party) in India is a regional party that has controlled the state government of
Delhi since 2015. In contrast, “regionalist” parties are subsets of regional parties
that strive specifically to gain greater political autonomy or independence within
their regions.
When, as they often do, regional or their regionalist sub-parties fail to garner
enough public support to win legislative seats or otherwise become politically
powerful, they may seek to become part of a coalition government—a type of
government in which political parties cooperate to form or attempt to form a new
government. Recent prominent examples include Lega Nord (North League), a
regionalist political party in the Piedmont region of Italy, the Sinn Féin party’s
participation in the Northern Ireland Executive since 1999, and the New Flemish
Alliance's participation in the Federal Government of Belgium since 2014.
Autonomism
Autonomy is the state of not being under the control of another. Autonomism, as
a political doctrine, supports the acquisition or preservation of the political
autonomy of a nation, region, or group of people. In Canada, for example, the
Quebec autonomism movement is a political belief that the province of Quebec
should seek to gain more political autonomy, without seeking to secede from the
Canadian federation. The Union Nationale was a conservative and nationalist
party that that identified with Quebec autonomism.
Secessionism
The laws of most countries punish those who secede or attempt to secede. While
the United States has no specific laws on secession, Chapter 15 of the U.S.
Code identifies treason, rebellion, or insurrection, seditious conspiracy, and
advocating for the overthrow of the government as felonies punishable by several
years in prison and substantial fines.
Nationalism
Nationalistic fervor can also lead nations into periods of isolationism. In the late
1930s, for example, popularly supported isolationism in reaction to the horrors of
World War I played a significant role in preventing the United States from
becoming involved in World War II until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sectionalism
Economic Regionalism
In the decades following World War II, several regional economic integration
arrangements were established in Europe, including the European Free Trade
Association in 1960 and the European Community in 1957, which reorganized into
the European Union in 1993. The number and success of such agreements
flourished after the tension of the Cold War had faded. For example, the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) free-trade area depended on geographic proximity, as well as
relatively homogenous political structures—particularly democracy—and shared
cultural traditions.
While economics and politics are similar and complement one another in several
ways, in the context of economic and political regionalism, it is important to note
that they are two contrasting concepts. Economic regionalism strives to create
expanded trade and economic opportunities through cooperation between
countries in the same geographical region. In contrast to the notion of building
new concepts, political regionalism aims to create a union of countries intent on
protecting or strengthening already established shared values.