Regionalism and Nationalism in Spain: A Historical Overview

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Regionalism and Nationalism in Spain

Basque Nationalism

In 1895, Sabino Arana founded the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party), centered around a group advocating for a Foral Bizkaia. Initially holding radical positions, Arana gradually moderated his stance, renouncing separatism and aligning with Christian ideology to support a more conservative nationalist option. He actively sought to disassociate Basque nationalism from Carlism, rejecting its reactionary elements. Basque nationalism championed the former statutory institutions, symbols of medieval political freedoms lost after liberalism's defeat against centralist Carlism. The PNV's program focused on recovering these liberties, incorporating a conception of race and language rooted in Catholicism. Without the PNV, a draft of regional cohesion couldn't be submitted, nor could the gentry's support be secured.

Galician Regionalism

Alfredo Brañas advocated for significant decentralization, transferring powers from Madrid to regional governments. This included control over areas like the army, public works, and interregional conflict resolution. Galician regionalism lacked structure and organization until the end of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, culminating in the formation of the Galician Autonomist Republican Organization (ORGA). Its main weakness was the absence of a driving bourgeois class.

Andalusian Regionalism

Two key events shaped Andalusian regionalism: the 1868 revolution and the 1898 crisis. However, the first concrete formulations emerged in the early 20th century, notably during the Andalusian Congress of Ronda in 1913, where Blas Infante played a prominent role. This congress led to the creation of the Centro Andaluz de Sevilla, presided over by Infante. He aimed to strengthen solidarity among Andalusian provinces, fostering stronger links between Spanish regions. The regional program wasn't revolutionary but aligned with Joaquín Costa's ideology, emphasizing Andalusia's need to discover its true identity.

Carlism

Severely weakened after General Martínez Campos's government victory in the Third Carlist War, the Carlists made unsuccessful attempts at resurgence. In 1881, the Carlist party was formed, later dividing into two branches: the Integrists, led by Ramón Nocedal, who were ultra-Catholic and reactionary, and the Traditionalists, led by Vázquez Mella, who leaned towards autonomism. The Integrists favored a return to the old regime, echoing their initial Carlist ideals, and supported armed action. The Traditionalists sought to modernize Carlism, advocating for Foral autonomy for Navarre and the Basque Country, which had lost their charters in 1876. This group gained prominence within Carlism and achieved some of its objectives.

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