Regionalism Regional Identity Research Paper

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Regional Identity and Its Literal Purpose

Regionalism is a common sense of identity. It is an expression of an identity that shapes activities in a particular geographical region. In early 1980's regions resurgence of regional self-consciousness was part of the general democratization process. Members of different regions, minorities and majorities, reclaimed what they considered as history leading to regional development. The process of increasing social and political awareness has led to rise of cultural and political dimensions of regionalism (Roth 59). A group of identity is politicized when it affects human judgments on political issues, or affects human decisions on how we act politically like voting for someone. This can define regionalism as the politicization of regional identity. This implies that regional populations have certain common interests that they can advance as a group. They advance these interests to preserve cultural identity, which is threatened by cultural standardization and to promote economic development of the country.

How regionalism develops

The common interests set by regional population show that the former can be effectively advanced if the regions are allowed autonomy in internal matters. Regionalists, therefore, increase political and economic autonomy of the region within the national constitutional framework, to strengthen regional government. They also focus on wealth distribution and public expenditure between territories rather than between functional groups. The distribution between socio- economic groups within the region, is subordinated for the good of the region, hence different groups are considered to cooperate for the common good of the region. Working to promote a region entails action which results from choices; where one chooses to promote their region or not. Since it is a matter of choice, any explanation of regionalism should take into account reasons for that choice. A cause of regionalism can be a cause in so far as affects the whereabouts of being a regionalist. Therefore, it is relevant and necessary to consider the incentives for taking a political action on behalf of a certain region.

Sin Pais synopsis

Sin Pais is a film that is representative of regionalism. It is a film which that depicts regionalism, and regional complexities that arise as a matter of choice of different nationalities for the good of a particular region, and in this case the U.S. (Fijtar 5). It attempts to go beyond mainstream media talks and normal partisan politics. It also explores immigration issues, through a family that undergoes an emotional journey that involves deportation. It is a 1992 story where Elida Mejia and Sam brought their one-year-old son (Gilbert) to California as they escaped an ongoing civil war in Guatemala. They decided to settle in a place called Bay as they struggled to work in multiple jobs to enable them support their family, save enough to buy a home and also pay taxes. As they lived there, they also got two more children, Dulce and Helen who were U.S. citizens by birth. Later immigration agents stormed into their house searching for people who did not live there, and because Sam, Gilbert and Elida were not documented. Resultantly, the three hitched up with the immigration department, and also got entangled to the department (Diaz).

Sin Pais begins two weeks before the scheduled deportation of Elida and Sam. It shows how the two passionately fight to keep their family together. Elida and Sam are finally deported, and they decide to go with Dulce to Guatemala. It has striking imagery, which shows complexities, and reality of children and parents separation; how children struggle to be without their parents, and how parents struggle to be without their children. It shows how political it can get when compassion and family values are involved; it also shows politicization of immigration policies. It puts a clear vision on the effects of deportation, following the plight of the family entangled at the face of complexities and cruelties of U.S. immigration department. They also tried to bring media attention to their unfolding drama, to salvage them from deportation from U.S., but their efforts were fruitless. They also hoped that exposure of their story would prevent other families from going through the same agony.

The story further shows anxiety about the uncertain future. It shows stress, re-union and many touching scenes of the division of family. Helen had impressive grades, which begun to fall when their house was at the brink of closure. This shows apparent devastation of the family psychologically. The transition also forced her to cope with the situation, pretending everything is okay while it is not. The anti- immigrant frenzy also made it harder for them, because they worked hard to stay out of trouble while extending their stay in the U.S. Later, Elida and Sam gained the permit to return to the U.

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S. after humanitarian parole was granted. The parole considered the predictable hardship the division of their family will create. This also kept them in a form of uncertainty as they could not know what can happen next because they were subject to annual review. These shows a state of regional identity, which is unfair and should be permanently fixed to prevent uncertainties and trauma of thousands of people.

Comparison of Sin Pais with regionalism

The story line of Sin Pais shows how regionalism occurs through different government policies, as a matter of regional identities. It also occurs at different times and grow or decline sometimes. Different theories explain regionalism, the theory of Centers and peripheries show that rulers emerge in peripheries and form empires and levels of group identity are higher than in the Centre. Here, there is the view of centers as a modernizing force, bringing democracy and capitalism, liberal values to the traditional and backward society in the periphery. State- builders occupy the Centre and gain military control over surrounding territories. The peripheries are later integrated to the economic system of the Centre as the states try to extract resources through control of trading patterns, limit external trade, and encourage internal trade and taxation. These activities ensure that the populations become loyal to the Centre by cultural assimilation at the nation building phase (Fijtar 6). This is evident in the story of Sin Pais where they come to California. They have to be loyal to the state by following their day- today cultures; by paying taxes and following policies put in place to enable nation building. Such policies include immigration policies, which have to be adhered. Elida and Sam also worked in multiple jobs to cater for their family, everyone is supposed to work to ensure nation building, and improvement of the economy. When regionalization occurs, it ensures that Centers gain control over certain territories; hence those who go through the territories without proper permission are at the risk of being deported or will be in the wrong side of the law. Elida and Sam had to be deported from the territory back to their country regulations put in place by the immigration department ensure that they control over the territories, bring democracy and ensure economic growth.

The Centers and periphery model shows that regionalism is a natural reaction to the expansion of central authority. The peripheries react differently to the formation of governance systems, through different events hence forming territorial identity. Regionalism also entails countries becoming developed and overcoming resistance to change. Social evolutions occur in under- developed townships and cities of manageable size and land. Similarly, biotic resources are still relatively uncompromised and accessible. Many countries try to achieve this and policies strategies are developed cannot become overcrowded preventing further development. Such policies immigration policies ensure that immigrants are legally in the country, and have enough land or sufficient housing to enable them to stay in the countries they migrate. It also prevents mushrooming of immigrants in other countries, as they try to escape economic or other hardships experienced in their countries. Their mushrooming can exceed a country's capacity to sustain those hence causing economic strains or a large number of poor people, which can lower the economic status of a country. This is seen when Sam and his family have to adhere to the policies or follow the right procedure to be allowed to live in the U.S.

To enable regionalism and regional development, there should be linking of food supply and food demand. Logistic problems should also be resolved to balance energy sources, and renewable sources to ensure rational policy distribution. The results will be economical and enable further development. The developed countries in San Pais are seen as a place where people go to get a better life, and also show that citizens are forced to leave their jobs for cheap labor in their countries. When they are finally allowed it is a relief to them, and it also shows how family values have been politicized where part of a family are citizens, others are not and are forced to separate. In addition, their re-union shows a mix of emotions. This shows certain regions have economic development, which is regionally rooted, and have better frameworks than….....

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