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Self-Determination in the Basque Country Essay examples

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Self-Determination in the Basque Country

The Basques, settled on the Franco-Spanish border, are a people who do not have a country that exists as an entity of its own. They are not recognized internationally. Their borders are not respected, and their culture is repressed. Thus the history of the Basque Country is one of contentious protest against imposed conditions, unremitting effort in defense of its identity and a relentless search for a means of democratizing public life. They have not been able to practice or pursue the right to self-determination as stated in the international covenants on human rights (above) and the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples from Algeria, July 4th, 1976, that, “Every …show more content…

One could be shot for speaking the language or gathering in small numbers. Torture was also very common with at least 100 cases reported annually and these numbers hold to present day. However in recent years, through the medium of Basque at private language schools known as ikastolaks, progress has been slow, but constant. Nevertheless, the number of individuals who use it daily or at least have a working knowledge of language are still sadly disproportionate. (Astrain)

Although the language is slowly being reintroduced to communities, repression continues because they do not enjoy any political unity, but rather an excess of political institutions and functions. Therefore, the Basques are deeply dissatisfied with both their lack of territorial unity and the inferior status of their language, as well as frustrated by the lack of a more participatory democracy. It is said that, “The Basques on either side of the Franco-Spanish border vote in elections for no fewer than a dozen different institutions,” (Astrain 6). They want to maintain their cultural integrity and be able to decide their own future, but this is increasingly difficult when there is no cohesion. Furthermore, the Basque Country has never been taken into consideration

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