Galicianism (Galicia)

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Galicianism ideology with the nationalist objective of the defense of Galicia and its culture by the means of the establishment of its own institutions.

Galicianism first appeared in the mid-nineteenth century, and at that time in history, it was known as provincialism. In more recent times it is referred to as regionalism. The term Galicianism was coined after the establishment of the Irmandades da Fala (Brotherhoods of the Galician Language), in 1916, and the appearance of the Galician nationalism that supported the national identity of Galicia. The Irmandades da Fala was an organization that had members from both the lower-middle-class and the class of intellectuals. This organization was led by Antón Vilar Ponte. Within the next decade, this organization was strengthened by two groups: the nationalists, led by Partido Galeguista of Castelao and the autonomist republicans of the ORGA. ORGA was directed by Santiago Casares and Antón Vilar.

In 1931, with the coming of the Second Republic, many drafts of a Statute of Autonomy were created. The final version was approved in December of 1932 in the Municipal Assembly of Santiago de Compostela. The Statute of Autonomy was approved by referendum on the 28 June 1936, and later approved by the Spanish Parliament in 1937. However, the Spanish Civil War stopped this autonomy from taking effect. With the end of the war many Galicianists where exiled from their home.

Galicianism during the reign of Francisco Franco's dictatorship was forbidden and persecuted. The foundation of the Editorial Galaxia in 1950 was one of the more zealous acts of the resistance. New organizations that supported the cause of Marxism were created, and fervently preferred the title of "nationalists". They used the estreleira as the Galician nationalist flag.

With the end of the Franco's dictatorship, the movement of Galicianism was reactivated and today the majority of political forces in Galicia call themselves "Galicianists".