ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses both the historical and social determinants of Basque Autonomy, arguing that the past and current tensions between the state and Basques peoples reveals an often narrow focus on national origins. It assesses the early experiment of autonomy in the 1930s, which revealed both the moral and political tensions of the Basque struggle for independence. The chapter focuses on Basque national politics during the contemporary period, notably the significance and implications of the Autonomous Act of the Spanish constitution, and the ties between regional authorities and state and the European Union (EU). It analyzes Franco's policies and its impact on the rising appeal of self-determination, as well as the role of Euzkadi ta Askatasuna (ETA) in Basque politics. One of the advantages of examining Basque autonomy in Spain is that it allows us to assess the material and cultural benefits and drawbacks of regional autonomy.
