In this article you will learn about Causes of Regionalism in Political Science.
Regionalism : Causes and Remedies
Presence of Regionalism in India has been a harsh reality. While the presence of some regionalism in a federal polity is natural, no one can justify the type of aggressive anti-national and parochial regionalism that has been growing in the country.
The following causes and remedies can be considered for it :
In every form, secessionism needs to be checked by forceful implementation of the law and operationalisation of a well designed socialisation process.
Some sort of regionalism is natural for the Indian federal polity and pluralist society. However, the demands for session cannot be considered as a part of regionalism. In fact, these reflect anti-nationalism. Such demands must be controlled and maintained through an effective use of law and order machinery backed by a strong governmental policy. Well designed socialisation of the masses should be encouraged which should enable them to participate fully in the national mainstream.
End of Policy of Appeasement.
The policy of appeasement of the minorities by political parties for securing electoral gains always encourages evil and negative regionalism. The political parties must abstain from doing it. They should realise completely the need to ignore short term electoral gains in favour of long term national interests.
Development of a spirit of Cooperative-Competitive Federalism.
Some regional parties operating at the state level act as agents of regionalism. These parties are organised primarily for satisfying regional needs and these reflect regional aspirations and ambitions. These have constitutional rights and freedom to operate. No one can or should object or interfere in their working. Yet efforts should be made to bring home to them the virtue of cooperative-competitive federalism. The party in power at the centre must not follow the policy of overthrowing a state government organised by a regional party. Such an action always intensifies negative/militant regionalism.
Development of a National Language
Linguistic reorganisation of states has been a big mistake. It has boosted parochial bigotism in the form of linguistic regionalism. However, we can never put the hands of the clock back. Such a move, though desirable, cannot be operationalised because it is bound to produce a big reaction. Nevertheless, by developing a common language and through reforms in the educational system, this form of regionalism can be checked from acting as an anti-national force.
Rapid Economic Development.
Socio-economic backwardness, mass unemployment and wide-spread poverty have been together a major factor of regionalism. Regional imbalances created by faulty planning, unenthusiastic and half-hearted implementation of plan objectives have added fuel to the fire of regionalism. The solution lies in effective and proper harnessing of national resources, infrastructural development, rural development and rapid industrial and technological advancement.
Development of a self-imposed code of conduct by the Media.
The regional press has encouraged regionalism just as regionalism has popularised the regional press. The vernacular press has the ability to represent and articulate regional forces against the national goals and national objectives. It should not be taken to mean even remotely that the vernacular press has been anti-national or has behaved only as a regional mouthpiece. At the same time, it cannot be denied that at times, it has failed to reflect a balance between the regional aspirations and goals.
This article on Causes of Regionalism in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.