Types, Instances and Forms of Regionalism

Types of Regionalism 

1. Supra-State Regionalism: Supra-state regionalism refers to the cooperation and integration between different regions of a country to achieve common goals. It involves the creation of regional institutions and agreements between regions. For example, the North Eastern Council in India is a regional organization formed to promote economic and social development in the Northeastern region of India. 
2. Inter-State Regionalism: Inter-state regionalism refers to the cooperation and collaboration between different states of a country to address common issues. It involves the formation of regional councils and agreements between states. For example, the Southern States Development Forum in India is an organization formed by the Southern Indian states to address issues of economic development and governance. 
3. Intra-State Regionalism: Intra-state regionalism refers to the promotion of the interests of a particular region or community within a state. It involves demands for greater autonomy and representation for a particular region or community within a state. For example, in India, the demand for Telangana state was an example of intra-state regionalism, where people of the Telangana region demanded a separate state for themselves. 

Instances of Regionalism 

• The demand for a separate flag for a state, as seen in the case of Karnataka. This is a manifestation of regionalism in India where a state demands a separate flag to assert its cultural and linguistic identity. 
• The "Son of soil" doctrine. This is a principle that asserts the rights of the native people of a region or state over those of outsiders or immigrants. It is often used to demand greater representation and autonomy for locals in governance and decision-making. 
• Local reservations in employment, as seen in states like Karnataka, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh. This is a policy of reserving a certain percentage of government jobs and educational opportunities for local residents of a state. It is often used to protect the interests of the local population and promote their socio-economic development. 
• Inter-state river water conflicts and non-cooperation, as seen in the case of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This is a manifestation of regionalism where two or more states engage in conflicts over the sharing of water resources from a common river. Non-cooperation and protests are often used to assert the rights of a state over the use of the shared resources. 
• The rejection of the new education policy over the 3 language formula, as seen in Tamil Nadu.This is a manifestation of regionalism where a state rejects a national policy on education, citing concerns about the imposition of a particular language or culture. In this case, Tamil Nadu protested against the proposed inclusion of Hindi as a third language in schools. 
• Para-diplomacy, as seen in the cases of Andhra Pradesh (S.E Asia) and Tamil Nadu (USA).This is a term used to describe the efforts of sub-national entities, such as states or provinces, to engage in international diplomacy and trade relations. In this case, states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have sought to establish trade and cultural ties with other countries outside India. 
• Violence against migrant workers, as seen in the case of Maharashtra's MNS party targeting North Indians and banning Bhojpuri films.This is a manifestation of regionalism where local political parties or groups target outsiders or immigrants, often with violent means, to protect the interests of the native population. In this case, the MNS party in Maharashtra targeted North Indians and banned Bhojpuri films to assert the cultural identity of the state. 
• The Khalistan movement, which aims to create a Sikh homeland from the state of Punjab. This is a separatist movement that seeks to create a separate homeland for the Sikh community, based on their religious and cultural identity. The movement gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s and has been largely suppressed by the Indian government. 
• Linguistic reorganization of states, as seen in the case of Andhra Pradesh in 1953 and other instances. This refers to the process of creating new states or redrawing state boundaries based on linguistic identity. This policy was first implemented in India in 1953 when Andhra Pradesh was carved out of the Madras Presidency to form a Telugu-speaking state. 
• The demand for autonomy, as seen in the case of Delhi. This is a demand for greater political and administrative autonomy for a region or state, often citing concerns about the central government's interference in local governance and decision-making.

Forms of Regionalism