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The Basque Political Conflict.

The Basque Political Conflict. Contents…. Geographical location Historical overview Contemporary Basque politics Contemporary causes of conflict The future? Conclusions. ‘Euskal Herria’ – 7 Basque Provinces…. French Basque Country … Ipparalde. Lapurdi / Labourd

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The Basque Political Conflict.

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  1. The Basque Political Conflict.

  2. Contents… • Geographical location • Historical overview • Contemporary Basque politics • Contemporary causes of conflict • The future? • Conclusions

  3. ‘Euskal Herria’ – 7 Basque Provinces…

  4. French Basque Country… Ipparalde. Lapurdi / Labourd Nafarroa Beherea / Basse Navarre Zuberoa / Soule Spanish Basque Country… Hegoalde. Gipuzkoa Araba Bizkaia Nafarroa …2 States…

  5. …3 administrative realities…

  6. Part 2. Historical Overview… • Historically, Basques renowned for language, traditions and defence of their lands. • Nineteenth Century: -1876, Basques lose the ‘fueros’/ local laws which guaranteed some autonomy. - 1875-1920, massive industrialisation and large influx of migrants from Spain… creates tensions.

  7. …… 3. Franco dictatorship 1939 – 1975: - Basque government driven underground/ into France. - Severe repression of Basque language and practises. - Second boom period for Basque economy in the 60s… fresh wave of migrants from other regions in Spain. - 1952: Bilbao students, frustrated with PNV, form ‘Ekin’.

  8. ‘Euskadi Ta Askatasuna’ formed in 1959 • Originally formed by members of ‘Ekin’, meaning ‘to do/ act’. • Aimed to counter acts of repression by Franco and the Spanish military. • ‘Bietan Jarrai’ means the ‘struggle on two fronts’: political and military. • Demands that Basques are allowed Self-determination.

  9. …Blanco ’73, Franco ’75, but ETA continue. • ETA assasinate Franco’s chosen successor, Luís Carrero Blanco, in 1973... • ETA continue violence against the state, even after Franco’s death in 1975... • ... which marked the transición ... from dictatorship to democracy. • Attitudes towards Basque question did not change.

  10. Partido Popular government mandate. Refused to negociate with Basque nationalist parties… either moderate or radical. Illegalise Batasuna and shut down ‘Egunkaria’. ETA declared a cease-fire in 1998. Cease-fire ended 1999… Losing support which existed. Batasuna refuses to condemn ETA assasinations . 1996 – 2004: Two extremes in conflict

  11. ETA announce cease-fire, March 2006.

  12. Part 3. Contemporary Basque Politics • Ideological fracture: left-wing - right-wing  • Identitarian fracture: nationalist - non-nationalist • 4 main parties… • PNV • Herri Batasuna (illegalised by former PP government) • PSOE - present Spanish government • PP

  13. PNVPartido Nacionalista Vasco centre-right nationalists – ruling party in Basque government - proponents of the ‘Plan Ibarretxe’. Herri Batasuna (‘Unity’) leftist nationalist organisation – illegalised and now uses EHAK or Basque Communist Party as electoral platform. PSOE centre/ centre-left Spanish government: ‘Spanish Socialist and Workers Party’. PP Partido Popular right-wing Spanish nationalist party with Francist roots. …

  14. Part 4. Contemporary causes of conflict? • Basque Independence. • Remember, 7 provinces, 2 states, 3 political units…. • Very difficult to achieve – hence ‘Plan Ibarretxe’. 2.ETA still an issue. • PSOE under pressure. • ETA yet to disarm. 3. Spanish media. • Reductionist portrayal of Basque nationalism/ conflict. • Anti-Basque, uses the ‘terrorism’ card.

  15. Part 5. The future for Euskal herria? • PP no longer the ruling party in Spanish government… • Will the PSOE negotiate with radical Basque nationalism? • What will ETA do?

  16. Conclusions… • Basque conflict is historical, sociological, political… and very complex. • Party politics has obscured the wide range of opinions and positions which the inhabitants of Euskal Herria hold. • From an international perspective, how do we react to the idea of Basque independence? • Are we afraid of a ‘Balkanised’ political map? Should we place the emphasis on respect and tolerance where sub-nationalisms are concerned?

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