ABSTRACT
The regional movement was born and cradled in France. During the nineteenth century the country suffered from the excessive concentration of both national and provincial affairs in the national capital, and that was the main cause of the growth of the regional movement. Many schemes were put forward for the creation of new political divisions in place of the départements, including those of Auguste Comte, the philosopher, and Frédéric Le Play, the sociologist. In 1898 the Union Régionaliste bretonne was founded, and in 1900 the Fédération Régionaliste française came into being with the objects of affording a link between all advocates of regionalism and of providing for the propaganda and defence of regional ideas and interests. Its organ was L’ Action Régionaliste and its chief exponent M. Charles-Brun. 1
