Geographic political divides in countries

[minionofmidas]

Italy is a north-right, south-left type of split IIRC.

More like center-left, north and south-right. There's also been a quite major realignment in the 90s, with the North becoming more right and the south less so than formerly.

[minionofmidas]

When you say Bavaria's voting pattern is due to regionalism, does that mean it considers itself somewhat seperate from Germany? A relative of mine has been to Munich and that region a few times and he said Bavaria is like a German Texas: everything is big, bombastic and conservative, and the culture is somewhat different.

Yes absolutely. Bavaria is like the South or Texas. While it is conservative it sees voting CSU as a statement of Bavarian pride, IIRC. Bavaria has a different culture, different dialect, and a different history than Northern Germany. It didn't come under Prussian control until 1871, when the German Empire was founded, and almost remained its own independent entity. I think the CSU plays off of that protraying itself as the party of Bavaria and the party of Bavarian "exceptionalism" in a way.

Except that, to a remarkable extent, anywhere in Germany is "like the South or Texas" in that respect.

[minionofmidas]

Oh yeah.
Indonesia - Java: PDI-P and numerous post-reformasi parties
Bali: PDI-P
everywhere else: Golkar

Cambodia - Phnom Penh: Sam Rainsy Party (corrupt ultra-pro-Americans)
everywhere else: Cambodia People's Party (corrupt postcommunist)

Malaysia - areas of opposition strength in the North and in Kuala Lumpur

Thailand - areas of opposition strenght in the Far South (bordering on the areas of opposition strength in Malaysia ) and to a lesser extent in Bangkok
 

[minionofmidas]

areas of opposition strenght in the Far South (bordering on the areas of opposition strength in Malaysia )

IE, the (relatively) hardcore islamic areas.

Nah, just plain and simple the islamic areas.

[minionofmidas]

areas of opposition strenght in the Far South (bordering on the areas of opposition strength in Malaysia )

IE, the (relatively) hardcore islamic areas.

Nah, just plain and simple the islamic areas.

I phrased it that way because of Malaysia.

Oh. Well, Malaysia has two opposition parties, one islamist, one proamerican, but nonetheless loosely cooperating at election time. The Kuala Lumpur seats are all of the "western" party, in the north the two are about equally represented.