How Separatist Groups Have Had Little Success at Gaining Autonomy from the Country Which they are Currently a Part Of

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How Separatist Groups Have Had Little Success at Gaining Autonomy from the Country Which they are Currently a Part Of

In this essay I will be aiming to explain how separatist groups have

had little success at gaining autonomy from the country which they are

currently part of. Autonomy is the right to self government and

therefore in my case study of the Basques I will assess whether they

have in my opinion been able to achieve this.

Map of Basque regionThe Basque region consists of seven "herrialdes",

or districts which, for political and administrative purposes, form

part of two different more economically developed European countries:

Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Nafarroa are in Spain, and Lapurdi,

Zuberoa and Benafarroa are in France. Three of the Basque Country's

seven historic territories, Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, in the north

of Spain, covering a total surface area of 7,233 square kilometres,

are grouped together to form a political unit known as EUSKADI, or the

Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. With a population of more

than 2.1 Million people, Euskadi gives a figure of around 300

inhabitants per square kilometre, higher than the average population

of European countries. Most people live in the larger urban areas in

the northern zone as well as densely populated coastal regions along

the 197 km coastline. In the 19th century it suffered from rural

depopulation. With the French sector containing the area where the

Pyrenees are located, this can separate the Basques from France and

unite the Basques together as a whole group, using the Pyrenees as a

defence method. As the Basques have a language of their own different...

... middle of paper ...

...peninsular, or Spanish, area. The Spanish Basque

territory is itself politically divided into two autonomous

communities: the Statutory Community of Navarre and the Autonomous

Community of the Basque Country. ETA also had an impact upon the area,

mainly the Basque region for which it wanted independence, it lead to

extreme violence and still is a problem nowadays although there was a

ceasefire in November 1999. ETA although a terrorist group has been

listened to and has had some if not all of its aims met and autonomy

even though not complete self government has occurred, it still has

some freedoms.

In my opinion I think that the Basque region could have a good and

successful autonomy if the Spanish government let them try. The

economy is strong and the social and cultural reasons for separatism

are valid points.

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