Nationalism and Regional Political Dynamics

Nationalism and regional political dynamics intersect in shaping how states accommodate, suppress or negotiate subnational identities. Nationalism, understood as a collective sentiment that binds individuals to a shared political community, often collides with regionalism, which asserts the distinctiveness of local cultures, languages or historical traditions. In multilevel polities, these tensions manifest in demands for decentralisation, autonomy or outright secession. The resulting political competition can generate affective polarisation between unionists and regionalists, influence policy agendas at both national and subnational tiers, and reconfigure party systems around centre–periphery fault lines. Contemporary research emphasises the role of identity markers—language practices, media consumption and family heritage—in consolidating regional attachments, while also examining how elite strategies and external shocks, such as international crises or referendums, reshape territorial preferences. Across Europe, North America and beyond, scholars trace the conditions under which regionalist movements evolve from policy advocacy to mass mobilisation, and the consequences this has for democratic governance, social cohesion and conflict resolution.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A longitudinal investigation into a European region’s secessionist conflict has illuminated how shifts in national identity correlate with ethno-cultural cleavages. Drawing on large-scale survey data over more than a decade, the study reveals that increases in exclusive regional identification coincide with declines in dual national identity. Key drivers include family language and patterns of media consumption, both of which reinforce collective narratives of difference. Statistical analysis further identifies pivotal political events that accelerated polarisation, highlighting the feedback loops between public opinion and institutional responses. This work underlines the interplay between cultural markers and political mobilisation in the emergence of deep societal fissures.

Nationalism and Regional Political Dynamics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nationalism and regional political dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nationalism: An ideology or sentiment that prioritises the interests, culture and sovereignty of a nation-state.

Regionalism: A political orientation that seeks greater autonomy or recognition for a subnational territory based on distinct identity or governance needs.

Secessionism: The advocacy of withdrawal from a larger political entity to form a separate sovereign state.

Affective polarisation: The phenomenon whereby political or territorial disagreements drive emotional distance and hostility between groups.

Multilevel governance: A framework in which authority is distributed across national, regional and local levels, often through decentralisation.

References

1. Unveiling pathways for the fissure among secessionists and unionists in Catalonia: identities, family language, and media influence. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2019).
2. Territorial disputes and affective polarization. European Journal of Political Research (2023).
3. Belonging and exclusion: the dark side of regional identity in Germany. Comparative European Politics (2021).
4. Brexit and Territorial Preferences: Evidence from Scotland and Northern Ireland. Publius The Journal of Federalism (2021).