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Explaining variation in sub‐state regional identities in Western Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Rune Dahl Fitjar
Rune Dahl Fitjar*
Affiliation:
International Research Institute of Stavanger, Norway
*
Address for correspondence: Rune Dahl Fitjar, International Research Institute of Stavanger, PO Box 8046, N‐4068 Stavanger, Norway. Tel.: +47 90186352; Fax: +47 51875200; E‐mail: rune.fitjar@iris.no
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Abstract.

While national identities emerged as the dominant source of territorial identification during the twentieth century, sub‐state regional identities are becoming increasingly important in some Western European regions. However, this is not a uniform development. In some regions, nearly half of respondents in Eurobarometer surveys claim a stronger attachment to the region than to the state. In others, less than 4 per cent are primarily attached to their region. This article examines the extent to which these differences are explained by the characteristics of the regions themselves. What, if anything, do regions that mobilise public identity have in common? Developing a model of regional identities, the study examines cultural, geographic, economic and political factors that vary across different regions in Western Europe. The study finds that regional identities tend to be stronger in regions where a regional language is spoken and which do not border the state capital, signalling a cultural and a centre/periphery dimension to regional identity formation. However, there is potentially a more strategic aspect to identification, as regional identities are likely to be stronger in economically developed regions and in regions with highly distinctive voting behaviour.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Information
European Journal of Political Research , Volume 49 , Issue 4 , June 2010 , pp. 522 - 544
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2009 (European Consortium for Political Research)

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