Current discourses and attitudes in favour of the independence of the Basque Country

ABSTRACT

With the aim to win support for its political project, Basque nationalism has traditionally sought to get an increasingly larger number of people to share a national identity. However, in the twenty first century, we can appreciate another discourse, which goes beyond national sentiment, and includes aspects that are more related to social and personal wellbeing. This second discourse has given rise to a new attitude to the independence of the Basque Country, which can now be shared by people who are not necessarily Basque nationalists, but are, on the other hand, interested in a project for a state as it could afford them personal benefits. This study explores how both discourses are spread and whether there has been a perceptible change in the attitude to independence in non-Basque nationalist sectors.

KEYWORDS:

• Nationalism
• Basque nationalism
• national identity
• Basque Country
• Secession

Acknowledgements

[Anonymised]

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The Basque Country is divided into three administrative districts. The Autonomous Community of the Basque Country is located in Spain and is the westernmost as well as the most populated (the provinces of Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa), and its political majority is Basque nationalist, from the centre-right to the left. The central territory (the Foral Community of Navarre) has traditionally had a regionalist right-wing majority (Spanish nationalist), although, since 2015, an alternative coalition, comprising, among other parties, Basque nationalist parties, took over the government. Last of all, the Community of the Basque Country is located in France, and Basque nationalism’s voting strength is weaker, although it is on the rise, at around 15%.

2 All data in the Sociómetro Vasco 71, points 4.8. and 4.9 Office of Sociological Research, President’s Office of the Basque Government. https://www.euskadi.eus/contenidos/documentacion/sociometro_vasco_71/es_def/adjuntos/19sv71.pdf, access on 03 February 2020.

3 This group has formed human chains covering hundreds of kilometres and it has held referendums on a sovereign Basque Country in numerous towns. Three major demonstrations were held in Bilbao in September and October 2017, in support of the Catalan process, at a critical moment, and there have been constant visits and talks by Catalan speakers.

4 For example, El País of 7 February 2018, https://elpais.com/politica/2018/02/06/actualidad/1517932940_504697.html access on 10 February 2020. Last of all, aspects related to the nation and the right to decide have led to clear discrepancies among political parties, and, following the dissolution of Parliament in February 2020, it is not known whether it will finally be drawn up. The differences in the draft of the Statute can be seen at http://www.legebiltzarra.eus/portal/web/eusko-legebiltzarra/ponencias-autogobierno/xi-legislatura

5 The focus groups are codified as follows: group number in the research, and participants’ profile (in favour, informants in favour of an independent Basque state; opposed, against independence; intermediate, with people who are neither in favour or against independence; and mixed, with participants from the different profiles mentioned).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ipar Hegoa Foundation; Parte Hartuz research group (UPV/EHU).