Fractionalization and Decentralization Predictors of the Relationship of Within-Country Region Diff

Abstract

We consider whether, when and why within-country regional differences overwhelm country differences in work goals. Whereas country boundaries have continuing cultural significance, within-country groups often have cultural importance that governments can support or undermine. Countries can recognize cultural groups by creating corresponding internal divisions (e.g., provinces, states, oblasts, etc.) and decentralizing different forms of control to them. Superficially, similar internal divisions, however, can also be created simply for administrative convenience or to undermine traditional cultural groups. Previous studies have sought, with limited success, to distinguish reasons for creating within-country divisions by distinguishing federated from unitary countries. We extend that research by studying the implications of ethnolinguistic fractionalization and regional decentralization rather than federalization. As in the previous research about the effects of federalization, we use work goals measures from the World Values Survey (WVS) and assess their association with WVS measures of attitudes toward democracy and ethics