ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna)

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the ETA or the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, a nationalist organization known as a radical and a secessionist group. The paper relates that this group has been contesting the predominant model of national autonomy within Spain since the early years of the 1960's. The paper also points out that it is helpful to remember that Basque country is located in the northern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, and the actual origins of the original Basques are unknown, although some experts believe that these people may well be the only pre-Aryan race in the world today. In addition, the paper notes that it has been suggested that the geographic location of the Basque country may have led the citizens to develop a sense of xenophobia, and an unwarranted insistence on Basque historic and ethnic distinctiveness. The paper explains, for example, that the Basque language, the Euskadi, is not related to any other known language in the world, and this makes Basques claim that this is the oldest language known in Europe. The paper also examines many other aspects of the ETA, such as its history, its role in Spain's development, its goals, origins, and organizational structure.

From the Paper:

The new group of Spaniards who emerged as a power during the 1930's expressed their burning desire to set up a socialist government that would give more power to working classes, and it was this group of people that formed the so called 'Popular Front', which became later known as the Republicans. Nevertheless, conservative Spaniards did feel that the Popular Friona would end up giving workers much too much power, and they tried their best to make sure that such a thing would not happen. These conservatives, also known as the Nationalists, wished to set up a very strict law and order system in Spain, and the National Basque Party opposed this. Most Basques preferred to lend their complete support to the Republicans, who desired that working classes should gain more power. Basques probably felt that if they lent support to the Republicans, they would be rewarded by obtaining some form of self government and autonomy of operation. The Nationalists, on the other hand, had made it very clear at the very outset, that they had no desire at all to share any power with ethnic groups of people in Spain. In 1936, at the time when Spain had its parliamentary elections, the National Basque Party was able to win a margin in the Basque Provinces, and this meant that thyme could now back up the Popular Front. In the meantime, General Franco, heading the Republican Party, planned, organized and staged an revolution and uprising against the ruling new Nationalist government, and there was intense fighting for power during the three year civil war that followed. (Katz, 24)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Euskadi Ta Askatasuna. Eyespymag. <http://wwweyespymag.com/euskadaaaskatasuna.htm>
• Euskadi Ta Askatasuna. History Channel. 2004.<http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/encyclopedia/article_show/Euskadi_ta_Askatasuna/m0046874.html>
• Garcia, Juan. Spanish State steps up repression of radical Basque youth. IV Online Magazine, IV330. April 2001. <http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article682>
• Heiberg, Marianne; O'Leary, Brendan; Tirman, John. Terror, insurgency and the state: Ending protracted conflicts. University of Pennsylvania Press. 2007.
• Katz, Samuel M. At any cost, National Liberation terrorism. Twenty-First Century Books. 2004.

More papers on ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna):

• Term Paper # 104031 : "ETA and the Basque Nationalist Movement"
• Essay # 24274 : "Basque Eta Group"
• Analytical Essay # 124805 : "The ETA and Spain"

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