Basque and Spanish Identity in a Changing Context

Abstract

Subjective national identity has been a widely studied phenomenon, and presents several implications. Membership in a specific "imagined community" and the collective adhesion of the citizens to that community are related to many aspects: economic, cultural and political. In the case of the Basque Country, subjective national identity is normally studied and measured in relation to the Spanish one, as these identites are for some people conflicting, and for others, overlapping. The reallocation of political options and positions in the political spectrum in the Basque Country and Spain, due to the end of violence, among other elements, also has as a consequence, a reallocation regarding the identity issue. The absence of violence and violent threats in the Basque Country has put institutions and political actors in a less confrontational situation. this article argues that the intensity of the confrontation and the identity are independent elements, and as a consequence, the end of violence and the new scenario has no effect on the levels of collective Basque identity, and therefore, the levels of subjective identity remain unchanged or, at least, independent from the shifts in center-periphery relations, This article aims to present data on the levels of Basque/Spanish identity in the last years to measure how subjective national identity has evolved. We look at voting behavior, language skills, age, education level and specific attitudinal and value indicators as they correlate to subjective identity. Data and evidence on the evolution in the last decade will be provided to have a clear insight on the levels and grounds on which subjective identity in the Basque Country is supported.

Keywords

• Basque Country
• national identity
• nationalism
• political attitudes
• voting behavior
• political culture