Regionalism (international relations)

Regionalism is like your mommy and daddy saying that you are part of a family. You have a family because you live in the house with mommy, daddy and maybe brothers and sisters. The people who live close to you also have families just like you.

In international relations, countries that are close to each other might also form groups called regions. They form these groups because they have a lot in common. Just like how you and your siblings share things and play together because you are in the same family, countries in a region work together because they have similar problems that need to be solved.

For example, some countries in Africa, like South Africa and Nigeria, work together because they have similar challenges like poverty and political instability. They form groups like the African Union to try and find solutions together. Countries in Europe also have a group called the European Union to work together and solve problems like economic growth and security.

Regionalism is important because it helps countries find solutions to problems by working together. It’s like getting help from your siblings when you need it, instead of trying to do everything alone.