REGIONALISM

Regionalism



Regionalism

Regionalism in General

The general concept behind regionalism is that certain regions or state are provided with unequal share of wealth usage and distribution by the government. By its definition, regionalism refers to the disproportionate concentration of economic flows or the coordination of foreign economic policies among group of countries in close geographic proximity to one another, wherein it also refers to the concentration of political-military relations among geographically proximate states. Another definition or regionalism is the socio-psychological phenomenon that refers to a territorial space, its people and its institutions and also a political phenomenon in so far as economic, political and cultural interests are defined and articulated in regional terms. But existing studies differ over the sources of the geographic concentration of economic and political relations such as some argues that regionalism emanates from the natural forces of proximity, income and policy convergence. The various forms of regionalism have been evident due to the forces of globalization which are at work redrawing the boundaries of political, economic and cultural spaces.

Regionalism in America is brought about by the government structure which is federalism, wherein every state is given the freedom to manage their own affairs and the national government will intervene only once the national interest is affected. Thus, the federal government modified and strengthened the principle of regionalism which also affected policy makings in the Congress and decisions of various courts. Every state has its own jurisdiction and its way of handling its people. But the fact that national policies are the fundamental law to be followed, some questions the creation of such laws to be biased on a certain region or states. The signs of a strong, expansive interest in and support for regional identity are evident in number of places, in successful regional theatres and art museums, expanding membership in local historical societies and watershed partnerships and community building cultural pride festivities and among others. The regionalism in the country is prevalent especially in creating identity for a certain region, making them well known in the international and local market. Certain divisions are from Latin America, North America, South America and well known states such as California and New York which has its own identity over other states. It strikes a chord with isolationist and nationalist elements in the USA, who equate the US support of multilateral institutions such as the GATT with the exploitation of America by its erstwhile allies in Europe and Asia, and US regionalism is confusing precisely because it can appeal to both protectionists and free traders, who support it as a means to different goals. US regionalism is best seen in the approaches of the government to ensure that all the states are given adequate services, despite of controversies and issues that they face. The advantages, disadvantages and risks of regionalism within the US will be presented in the following parts of the paper.

Implications of Regionalism

Looking on the definition of the principle, it can be concluded that regionalism generally has various implications for ...