Is the National Question a Problem for Social Movements? Activist Discourses from the Basque Country

Abstract

This article describes the impact of the national issue in the contemporary context of Basque social movements. Feminist, socio-ecology, pro-migrant and pro-language activists participated in this qualitative research. Our analysis indicates that a disposition towards collaboration can be observed within the social movements investigated. While this represents a shift as compared to decades past, different and sometimes conflicting national imaginaries are still present in activist discourses. These are reflected in debate around a number of issues, but especially the centrality of Basque identity in general and the Basque language in particular.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The Basque Country, or Euskal Herria in the Basque language, is divided into three administrative territories. Basque nationalism has had the least influence in the Community of the Basque Country, located in French territory, which is also least populated of the three areas. The Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Foral Community of Navarre are on the Spanish side of the border. Both are more populated and the nationalist movement is stronger in the former. These two territories, which are the subject of this research, are together referred by Basque nationalists as the Southern Basque Country.

2 Data taken from the 79. Euskal Soziometroa / Sociómetro Vasco 79. Survey 2023/02. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.euskadi.eus/euskal-soziometroak/web01-s1lehike/eu/.

3 Data taken from the Naziometroa, Barometer on Basque Sovereignty, 4th. Survey 2022/04. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://telesforomonzonlab.eus/2022-04-neurketa/.

4 Abertzale, from Basque, can be translated as patriot. In this text it is used to refer specifically to Leftist Basque Nationalists, in accordance with general usage in the territory being discussed.

5 See, for example, https://www.publico.es/politica/eta-aznar-llevo-carcel-periodistas-abogados-reactiva-nuevas-acusaciones.html. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

6 Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.naiz.eus/eu/hemeroteca/gara/editions/2016-11-11/hemeroteca_articles/el-movimiento-feminista-se-adhiere-a-la-denuncia-sobre-la-situacion-de-zulueta.

7 Fifty-nine interviews were conducted in the first phase in 2018 (Esteban, 2020); the second phase was carried out in 2020. Interviews (I) are coded using a number and the movement to which the interviewed activist belonged, and the focus group is coded (FG).

8 Sabino Arana Goiri (1865–1903), is regarded as the father of Basque nationalism.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain [grant number CSO2017-82903-R], period 2018–2022.

Notes on contributors

Iker Iraola

Iker Iraola is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a member of the Parte Hartuz Research Group. Holding a PhD in sociology, his research areas are related to political sociology, covering topics including nationalism, the relationship between Basque nationalism and immigration, political socialization and citizenship, among others.

Noemi Bergantiños

Noemi Bergantiños is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). She holds a doctorate in political science and is a member of the Parte Hartuz research group. She has participated in numerous research projects addressing democracy, citizen participation and the social dynamics of democratic deepening, and has published a number of books and articles.

Maddalen Epelde

Maddalen Epelde is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a member of the Parte Hartuz Research Group, specialized in the study of democracy, political participation, gender and nationalism. She has lectured and carried out research into social work at the University of the Basque Country. Her research and publications are mainly linked to the study of social realities, such as the migratory phenomenon and social integration processes. She focuses on migrants' political participation within destination countries.

Marina Sagastizabal

Marina Sagastizabal is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country. In 2019 her PhD thesis won the prize for the best thesis in the field of feminist and gender studies of the University of the Basque Country. The central theme of the thesis was political participation from a feminist perspective. She is currently working on a research project with nine other universities on the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-laboral conditions of caregivers in family, institutional and community contexts.

Julen Zabalo

Julen Zabalo is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a member of the Parte Hartuz Research Group. He has published several works on identity and contemporary Basque nationalism, including a study on citizenship and national identity which is his main line of research. He collaborates with the Naziometroa project, periodic sociological studies to measure the opinion of the Basque population on issues related to sovereignty, citizenship, and so on.