Debates about Basque self-determination were curtailed for decades by political violence, involving both the actions of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) and the counter-terrorism activities of Spain and France. In 2011, ETA announced a permanent cessation of operations. Since then, stakeholders have become increasingly aware of the need to rethink Basque nationhood and democratic representation in light of the changing nature of nationhood and citizenship within the European Union. These issues are also topical in the French Basque country, which has witnessed a re-emergence of Basque identity politics in recent years. This book describes the contemporary re-imagining of Basque nationhood in both Spain and France. Taking a fresh look at the history of Basque nationalist movements, it explores the new debates that have emerged since the demise of non-state militancy. Alongside analysis of local transformations, it also describes the impact of global changes on ideas about Basque self-determination.

Pedro Ibarra Güell is Professor of Political Science at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). During the transition to democracy in Spain, he worked as a labour lawyer and advocate for political prisoners. He later founded and directed Party Hartuz, a research group on participatory democracy based at the University of the Basque Country. His main areas of research are theories of collective action, political participation, social movements and nationalism. Åshild Kolås holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Oslo and works as a research professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Her core research areas are ethnicity, identity politics and peacebuilding. She has carried out long-term fieldwork in Tibetan communities in India and China and has published widely on the politics and representation of identity.

Contents: Pedro Ibarra Güell/Iban Galletebeitia Gabiola: Introduction – Francisco Letamendia: The Violent Conflict: Actors, Histories, Models and Discourses – Henar Criado: Legacies of the Past and Basque Identity after the Democratic Transition – Ane Larrinaga/Mila Amurrio: The Ethno-linguistic Movement and Linguistic Self-determination in Euskara – Asier Blas: Identity, Territoriality and Basque Secessionism: The Issue of Navarre – Mateo Ballester: Constitutional Patriotism and Constitutionalism in the Basque Country – Iñigo Urrutia/Zelai Nikolas: Legal Limits of Decentralization in Spain: Accommodation or Secession? – Eduardo J. Ruiz-Vieytez: Basque Sovereigntism and New Diversities in the Post-Violence Scenario – Igor Ahedo: Iparralde: The Emergence of the Basque Territory in France – Julen Zabalo/Txoli Mateos: National Identities in the Basque Country: Present and Future Trends.