Abstract
Introduction. The article is devoted to the instruments used by the Spanish Kingdom in administrative and legal spheres to counter nationalist and separatist aspirations of the Basque Country throughout different historic periods. Special attention is paid to the confrontation with the Basque terrorist organization ETA. In addition, the research analyzes what caused ETA to emerge, underscores the major stages of its evolution, and discusses cross-border aspects of bilateral cooperation between Spain and France under the aegis of the supra-national specialized organization of Europol. The administrative and legal instruments used by Spain are distinguished in context of the analysis of the prospects for the applying of modern political and legal toolkit in the regional policy that is often contrary to the interests of the modern centralized state. The research pays attention to the administrative measures that led to ETA crisis and its further collapse.Material and methods. The paper uses the methodology of a retrospective analysis and content-analysis to characterize the shifts in the principles of Spanish administrative and territorial tools and their influence on the nature of the Basque nationalism. The Constitution of 1977 and the Statute of autonomy of the Basque Country are considered.Results. The paper sums up all the major shifts in the Spanish practice in the usage of administrative and political measures to combat the Basque separatist aspirations, evaluates their efficiency and outlines current obstacles towards the way of the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue with Madrid.Conclusion. The first part of this article points out the growth of nationalist and separatist aspirations in the Basque Country and shows how political systems (absolute monarchy, republic, authoritarian governance, constitutional monarchy) lead to the application of new administrative and legal instruments that affect the Basque nationalist aspirations. The second part focuses on the current state of relations between the region and the central government.
Highlights
The article is devoted to the instruments used by the Spanish Kingdom in administrative and legal spheres to counter nationalist and separatist aspirations of the Basque Country throughout different historic periods
While analyzing the evolution of the Basque nationalist movement it is impossible to overlook the historical roots of the Basque Country itself
The Basque nationalist party (BNP) showed willingness to support the central government during the economic crisis, as well as the desire to achieve political stability in society
Summary
While analyzing the evolution of the Basque nationalist movement it is impossible to overlook the historical roots of the Basque Country itself. One of the most known and simultaneously the most unsuccessful operations, conducted by GAL fighters was the kidnapping of Segundo Marey who was mistakenly taken for ETA leader Mikel Luzhua on December 4, 1983 in French Basque region [31] This incident and the subsequent killings of 27 «Euskadi Ta Askatasuna» activists in France demonstrated the illegality of actions carried out by the Spanish government that eventually led to a series of trials and provoked a political scandal which made Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez resign [31]. The PSOE committed to provide assistance to the Basque Country in implementing the current Statute of autonomy [2] With this step, the BNP showed willingness to support the central government during the economic crisis, as well as the desire to achieve political stability in society. The letter appealed to all members and activists with the call to dissolve ETA structures, recognized the public support loss among the Basques and expressed the need to concentrate efforts on the legal political field [19]
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