Regionalism refers to loyalty to one’s own State or region before one’s nation. This interferes with national integration to a great extent. The history of a particular region is glorified and often it is misused to stress divisive forces, thus ignoring the common cultural legacy and heritage.
Regionalism emerges due to the desire of people speaking one language to have one State. There is also a strong urge to give priority to the economic development of one’s own region. This leads to Inter-State rivalries. So long as this Inter-State rivalry is economic and social (e.g. for funds and welfare schemes), it is healthy
But when this rivalry takes political overtones, it becomes very dangerous. Political parties give more importance and weightage to local and regional matters and problems rather than the nation. Regionalism thus strengthens sectarian biases by political parties. Interregional tensions escalate over economic, political, and such issues. This has led to regional movements for State rights and militant movements for separatism.
Example: The Jammu and Kashmir issue, the Punjab problem, Assam issue, etc. All this, if unchecked, can strike at the very root of democracy.
