PRINCIPLES AND STAGES OF REGIONALISM
Barnes, Harry Elmer
Fourth Of A Series Of Articles On Regionalism Principles And Stages Of Regionalism By HARRY ELMER BARNES LET us now look at some phases of regionalism, viewed as the next stage in the evolution...
...It is somewiiat paradoxical that many of those who have argued most vehemently for a closely federated continent have also been enthusiastic partisans of democracy...
...It would be desirable, however, to have enough cultural unity to promote understanding and to make common economic activities and policies workable...
...They envisage regions which are immediately to set up a strong political federation...
...If a common currency and credit system can be arranged, such would be desirable as soon as feasible...
...A regional organization of Latin America would be even more simple from a linguistic standpoint, since only Spanish and Portuguese are spoken...
...It is for this reason that such plans as those for a close regional federation of the European continent would be likely to fail at the present time...
...THERE should certainly be a regional government to deal with economic and other matters that affect the region as a whole...
...The desirable and logical stages of evolution within regionalism would appear to be something like the following: (1) a customs union, augmented by such other forms of economic cooperation as might prove feasible at the outset...
...ONE of the most common arguments against regionalism is that it would crush out the precious cultural autonomy of the various nationalities entering into the regional organization...
...The more sensible plan would be to start with smaller regions, slowly evolving federalism within each...
...There is no reason why cultural autonomy could not be guaranteed in all matters which do not vitally affect the economic organism which such a regional unity must provide as the fundamental basis of its existence and justification...
...This would not necessarily follow, and could certainly be guarded against by deliberately chosen policies...
...Later on, it might prove feasible to have a continental union of the regions which have succeeded in solving the problems of regional unity and administration...
...They have apparently failed to reckon with the fact that the extent and complexity of political problems in such a great federation could hardly be reconciled with democratic procedure...
...Further, while it is desirable to have regions as large as possible, it is doubtful if any vast regional organization, unless it be Latin America, could safely attempt to follow the example of the United States...
...An economic division of labor should be worked out, so that each district in the region may specialize in that form of industry or agriculture for which it is best suited by natural resources and technological equipment...
...It is doubtful if this is feasible, no matter how desirable it might be...
...The educational systems in the various units of the region could provide for training of children both in the language of the home area and in the common language of the region...
...Even after temporary unity was secured in 1789, it was nearly wrecked over the slavery controversy and we required a bloody Civil War to preserve and perpetuate the federal union...
...It is obvious, however, that a strong federation of any large region is not likely to permit of democratic institutions, unless provision is made for extensive local government in all matters not of regional import...
...There would be little difficulty in this matter in Europe, since most Europeans are already bi-lingual or polylingual...
...To start with, any rational region should rest upon fundamental, or at least potential, community of economic interests...
...The essentials of a rational regional organization, at the start, would be something like the following...
...In the first place, any region should be economically self-sufficient, or as nearly so as possible...
...Only a totalitarian system could rule efficiently over any great area...
...IN the case of our country there was no original background of great cultural diversity or a long tradition of national independence, jealousies, and conflicts...
...While we may hope that regionalism will ultimately assure close and coherent federations, this is not essential at the start, and it is doubtful if any rigorous scheme of close federation would work successfully in the earlier stages of regional organization...
...Most regional enthusiasts and theorists are also federation ists...
...If national states cannot govern effectively through representative government and democracy, it is obvious that the government of an entire continent would more or less certainly doom democracy and liberty...
...But there is no reason why the original linquistic traits and groupings could not be maintained...
...At least, there should be many and evident economic advantages in any union which is attempted...
...All tariff barriers should be eliminated at once in the regional group, and there should be complete freedom of trade within the region...
...Otherwise, the over-complexity of political problems, which already besets and bedevils national states, would only be augmented and aggravated...
...It might start with nothing more than a customs union...
...2) a relatively loose political confederation, dealing with matters which concern the region as a whole...
...The common language would presumably be that of the dominant nation in the region...
...In other respects, local government should be retained and probably extended...
...There should probably be a common language for the entire federation to facilitate governmental arrangements and activities...
...Fourth Of A Series Of Articles On Regionalism Principles And Stages Of Regionalism By HARRY ELMER BARNES LET us now look at some phases of regionalism, viewed as the next stage in the evolution of political structure and institutions...
...A regional union of United States and Canada would present no linguistic difficulties whatever...
...Even so, it required the Revolutionary War and near chaos at its close to force us into a federal union...
...This consideration constitutes the main argument against over-large and over-ambitious regional programs, such as those that involve an entire continent...
...3) an ultimate close political federation, as economic unity makes this seem more feasible and likely to succeed...
Vol. 9 • July 1945 • No. 27
