Introduction
The nationalist movement can be associated both with the positive aspects of national unity and with the negative phenomena in the form of terrorism in the struggle for self-determination. Nationalist movements usually develop against the background of ethnic contradictions, restrictions on freedoms, or complicated political circumstances. The Basque Country is an example of a state in which nationalism originated as a movement to protect the sovereignty and rights of the people, resulting in a radical social tendency.
Definition of Nationalism
Nationalism is a modern ideology with a fundamental thesis about the value of the nation as a form of civic unity. The ideology of nationalism implies the nation’s primary role in creating a state that defends the interests of the nation living on its territory (Triandafyllidou 792). Nationalism implies that countries should have the right to self-determination and be governed from within without external interference (Keating 316). At the same time, the people are recognized as the only legitimate source of political power. Nationalism suggests the existence of a single national identity, common culture, traditions, and language.
Origins of Basque Nationalism
The Basque Country in modern Europe is an autonomous community in northern Spain. The Basques traditionally settled in these lands between France and Spain (Alvaro 452). Until the French Revolution, part of the Basque lands retained autonomy, but then regional freedoms were abolished (Mohamed 4103).
The Basques are now considered descendants of the indigenous tribes that once inhabited the European continent. Historically, the Basque people have maintained a strong national identity based on a common ethnic origin. Guided by this fact, the Basque nationalists desired the creation of an independent country.
Formation of the Basque Nationalist Movement
The awareness of the centuries-old ethnic community as a political force led to the formation of Basque nationalism. Adherents of this movement argued that the ethnic group is a political unity despite the geographical distribution. Basque nationalism as a single movement originated in the 19th century when the region lost its autonomy (Nelson 131). This movement spanned three geographic regions in Spain and France and advocated the unification of provinces that spoke a common language (Nelson 131).
The movement initially began advocating for territorial autonomy against the pressures of centralization. The third Carlist war put an end to the Fuero system, which confirmed the sovereign rights of the provinces (Reid 155). Previously acting as a regulator of relations between the Basques and the Spanish government, the laws guaranteed a special position for the region (Reid 156). Having lost this position, the Basques lost their right to self-determination.
The Role of Sabino Arana
A significant role was played by the politician Sabino Arana in the development of the Basque nationalist movement. He was a prominent ideologist of the struggle for the independence of the Basque Country from Spain (Nelson 133). Sabino Arana argued that the Basque identity was deliberately suppressed in favor of the idea of the exclusivity of the Spanish nation and centralist views (Nelson 133).
Arana only agreed with the central authorities that Catholicism could be a factor in preserving the Basque identity (Nelson 133). Subsequently, Catholicism as an integral part of the Basque community was rejected. The 1893 uprising in Navarre was widely supported by Arana and his followers (Nelson 133). This event is associated with the starting point of the formation of Basque nationalism as a political movement.
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque Nationalist Party was founded on the principles of Arana. His program included the definition of the Basques as a nation with its history, culture, and political system (Nelson 133). The only way to resolve the contradictions was to sever ties with France and Spain and create a sovereign state. Gradually, the party’s ideology was transformed and changed to the idea of the purity of the Basque nation and the inadmissibility of migration to the historical Basque lands (Nelson 133). The Basque Nationalist Party began to radicalize in order to achieve autonomy.
Basque Nationalism in the 20th Century
At the beginning of the 20th century, the movement changed, and it was forced into hiding during the dictatorship. At the same time, the party failed to reach a consensus on the role of Catholicism in the Basque identity. Gradually, some ideological adherents began to lean towards an alliance with leftist movements, leading to a further split (Nelson 133). In 1936, the party, abandoning contradictions for the sake of gaining sovereignty, achieved the creation of an autonomous government (Lubanska-Gomez 52). However, it was soon abolished, and some leaders were forced to leave the country.
The movement received a new life after the Second World War. In the middle of the 20th century, the ideological group was finally divided into democratic and left-wing nationalists (Nelson 133). In 1968, the first clash of the left group in the long-armed struggle for independence took place (Nelson 134). The new Spanish Constitution of 1978 guaranteed the Basque Country the most serious set of powers, allowing it to have a local parliament, an independent tax policy, and two state languages (Nelson 135). However, individual outbreaks of terrorist aggression have been observed up to the present.
Basque Nationalism in Modern Times
Separate terrorist attacks related to drawing attention to the problem continued into the 21st century. However, in 2018, the Basque terrorist group informed the public about the final decision to abandon paramilitary structures (Lubanska-Gomez 48). Both radical and democratic sentiments continue to be observed among representatives of the Basque peoples since the age-old struggle for independence could not but leave an imprint on national identity.
However, the Basque community has not recently encouraged radical ideas about the need for immediate acquisition of full sovereignty (Lubanska-Gomez 48). The cessation of armed confrontation for the Basques meant attracting more world-positive attention to resolve contradictions. The Basque national identity continues to be a unifying force, but the rejection of armed struggle has led to peaceful coexistence.
Conclusion
The Basque Country is an example of a nationalist movement born against a backdrop of political controversy. Throughout history, the movement has been radicalized, ceasing to be an ideology aimed at the peaceful achievement of autonomy. With the establishment of democracy in Europe and guarantees of a special status for the Basque Country, the nationalist ideology of the exclusivity of the Basque ethnic group was no longer supported by the majority. Nevertheless, this example demonstrates two extremes of nationalism in principle: a uniting tendency for the rights of a particular nation and a radical terrorist movement.
Works Cited
Alvaro, Aragon Ruano. “French Basque and Béarnais Trade Diaspora from the Spanish Basque Country During the Eighteenth Century.” Atlantic Studies, vol. 16, no. 4, 2019, pp. 452-481. Web.
Keating, Michael. “Is a Theory of Self-Determination Possible?” Ethnopolitics, vol. 18, no. 3, 2019, pp. 315-323. Web.
Lubanska-Gomez, Justyna. “Threats to Public Safety on the Example of Basque Nationalism in Spain.” Athenaeum, vol. 68, no. 4, 2020, pp. 42-54. Web.
Mohamed, Vian Ahmed. “The Separatist Movements in The North West of The Mediterranean Basque Region as Model.” Review of International Geographical Education Online, vol. 11, no. 7, 2021, pp. 4095-4107. Web.
Nelson, Elizabeth Ann. Regional Politics and State Secession. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 2021.
Reid, Michael. Spain: The Trials and Triumphs of a Modern European Country. Yale University Press, 2023.
Triandafyllidou, Anna. “Nationalism in the 21st Century: Neo‐tribal or Plural?” Nations and Nationalism, vol. 26, no. 4, 2020, pp. 792-806. Web.