Localist

Localist is a term used in politics to describe an ideology or stance that prioritizes local jurisdictions, communities, and cultures over higher levels of authority. In its broad sense, localism favors local autonomy, decentralization, and policies tailored to local needs, often including protections for local industries, languages, and traditions. It is distinct from general support for municipalities, though those ideas overlap.

In contemporary discourse, the term has taken on more concrete meaning in places where local groups seek greater control over governance or a stronger sense of local identity. The most notable example is Hong Kong, where localist described a range of actors—from advocates of greater autonomy to groups that support independence or self-determination. Localist sentiment grew in the 2010s amid concerns about immigration, cultural change, and perceived encroachment by Beijing. Localist parties and activists ran in elections, influencing public debate, though their fortunes varied.

Following broader political shifts and legal developments, many localist organizations faced pressures, legal challenges, or disbanded, and were sidelined from formal politics in some contexts. Similar debates occur elsewhere, where localization of governance is discussed in relation to decentralization, regional autonomy, or cultural preservation. Critics contend that localism can drift toward parochialism or exclusion, while supporters view it as a way to bolster democratic accountability by reinforcing local control. Localism thus represents a spectrum of positions, from practical decentralization to more expansive claims about identity and jurisdiction.