Iberic Federalism

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Iberic Federalism or Pan-Iberism was an ideology from the beginning of the 20th century purporting the federation of both great countries in the Iberian Peninsula: Portugal and Spain. These ideals were mainly promoted by republican and socialist movements in both nations.

Contents 1 Precedents 2 History 3 Iberist personalities 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 7 Specialized bibliography

[edit] Precedents

Portugal and Spain share a common history as heirs of the Lusitani and Roman Hispania. Spanish and Portuguese are both Romance languages and have influenced each other and similar ethnicity and culture. Portuguese origins as an independent evolution of Galician-Portuguese in the kingdom of Portugal. The Galician language instead was influenced by Galicia's incorporation to the Crown of Castile. Both countries forged themselves and their common border in the Reconquista against the Moors.

In 1512, Ferdinand II of Aragón conquered the kingdom of Navarre bringing what is know Spain under a common rule. However Portugal was an independent country, competing with Castile in the colonial expansion. The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world in a Portuguese and a Spanish hemispheres of influence.

Another level of unification was brought by the flee of many Spanish Jews in 1492 to Portugal. In 1498, the Portuguese Jews and their new brethren were expelled from Portugal. The exodus mixed the Iberian Jews forging the Sephardic community with its Ladino language.

As a result of the disapparition of Sebastian I of Portugal in the battle of Alcazarquivir, Philip II of Spain exerted his dynastic rights and used Castilian troops to overcome the rival pretender. The national poet of Portugal Luís de Camões opposed Philip but had himself written some sonnets in Spanish. In 1581, Philip became Philip I of Portugal, joining both crowns in the most extended empire of the history upon that time. The Spanish Hapsburgs (Philip III of Spain and II of Portugal, Philip IV of Spain and III of Portugal) ruled what has later been called the Iberian Union, a personal union of different kingdoms. In 1640, the duke of Bragança gathered those unrestful in Portugal and the support of Cardinal Richelieu of France. His rebellion succeeded and he became the John IV of Portugal. The North African city of Ceuta decided to leave the crown of Portugal and remain under the Spanish king. In 1801, the Portuguese city of Olivença passed to Spanish sovereignty as Olivenza. Portugal has since claimed the city back and there is no common definition of the border in the area.

[edit] History

It is José Marchena in the 18th century, who in l'Avis aux espagnols, gives this doctrine a progressive, federal and republican tone. In the Liberal Triennium (1820 - 1823), the secret liberal organizations try to diffuse Iberism in Portugal, to create seven confederated republics, five in Spain and Lusitania Ulterior and Lusitania Citerior in Portugal. In the later Revolutionary Sexennium, the movement reaches its apogee, General Prim is compelled by Keratry to join the countries as a new Oliver Cromwell. After his murder, the First Spanish Republic (1873-1874) seems the right moment for the union given its federalism.

In the 20th century, Iberism melts into the ideologies of some leftist currents such as the anarchist Federación Anarquista Ibérica and the Federación Ibérica de Juventudes Libertarias.

The nationalistic dictatorships of Portugal and Francoist Spain shared many political similarities and some degree of mutual support but both countries were said to live "back to back".

Currently no represented party has the goal of Iberism but both countries joined the European Economic Community in 1986 and the borders have become permeatable since then. Big companies have opened shop in the neighbor country, and the Portuguese state closed the hospital of Elvas sending patients to the Extremadura health system. Some sectors defend Iberism, including some Spanish officers[1]. A survey [2] from 2006, shows that a 28% of the Portuguese think that Portugal and Spain should be one country. A 42% of these would put the capital in Madrid and a 41% in Lisbon. A 96.5% thought that the economy of Portugal would fare better in a union with Spain, and more than a half would accept Juan Carlos I of Spain as head of state. Note the crisis of Portuguese economy at this moment. A similar survey in Spain, after the Portuguese one, showed that 45,7% think that Portugal and Spain should merge, this support is especially higher in the younger population (18 to 24 years old) and communities near the border with Portugal. But in Spain only 3.3% would prefer Lisbon as capital, while 80% would prefer Madrid. 43.4% think the country should be known as Espãna/ Espanha (Spain) against 39.4% preferring Iberia.

[edit] Iberist personalities

• Miguel de Unamuno, Spanish philosopher.
• Latino Coelho.
• Juan Valera, Spanish writer.
• Emilio Castelar, president of the First Spanish Republic.
• Joan Maragall.
• Sinibaldo de Mas.
• Francisco Pi y Margall, president of the First Spanish Republic.
• José Saramago, Portuguese Nobel Prize of Literature, resident in Lanzarote, Spain.
• Mario Lino, minister of public works, transports and communications of Portugal.
• António Lobo Antunes, writer.
• Eduardo Lourenço, essayist.

[edit] See also

• Pan-Hispanism
• The former Iberian colonies of South America are advancing their own economic union in the Mercosur/Mercosul.
• Some Galician nationalists support reintegrationism, the unification or approximation of Portuguese and Galician, which would separate from Castilian influence.
• There are tendencies among the nationalities of Spain advocating the breakup of the country.
• Foreign relations of Portugal
• Foreign relations of Spain

[edit] References

1. ^ Antonio Martins. Iberian Federalist Flag. Retrieved on 30 September, 2006.
2. ^ Antonio Martins. Origins of the current Portuguese national flag. Retrieved on 10 June, 2006.

• The corresponding article in the Spanish Wikipedia, checked on 30 September 2006.

[edit] External links

• Mi iberismo, by José Saramago.
• Center of Iberian Studies.

[edit] Specialized bibliography

• Rocamora, Jose Antonio. El nacionalismo ibérico: 1732-1936. Publicaciones Universidad de Valladolid.
• Cabero Diéguez, Valentín. Iberismo y cooperación: pasado y futuro de la península ibérica. Publicaciones universidad de Salamanca.