Spanish unionism

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Spanish unionism is a label used by Basque and Catalan nationalists to refer to the political attitude which favours the continuity of the Kingdom of Spain as a single united nation-state.

Namely, the expression Spanish unionism has only been used for the last 10 years in the context of the Catalan independentist debate.[1] Prior to this, usage of the term was limited to Basque nationalism.[2]

The importation of the term unionism into the Spanish context and its usage with pejorative meaning is related to the peripheral nationalism attempts in order to introduce the terminology of the Northern Ireland Conflict both in the Basque Conflict and Catalonian independence debate.[3]

In this way, 'Spanish unionism' is considered by Basque and Catalonian nationalist parties as a political ideology identified by its denial of the exercise of the right of self-determination of the peripheral nationalities of Spain or, sometimes, by the simple defense of Spain as a nation.[4] Therefore, the label has been applied to parties such as the People's Party,[5][6] Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE)[7] (however sometimes PSOE is seen as more sympathetic to Spain's nationalist movements[8]), Union, Progress and Democracy (UPYD) and Citizens-Party of the Citizenry (C's).

Nationalist parties are currently in charge of both the Catalan and Basque parliaments, whilst in Galicia, Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands (the other 3 autonomous communities with another official language different from the Spanish language) and in the Spanish Government, the People's Party is in power. They act as a staunch opponent of Spain's nationalist movements and also of the federalism proposals for the Spanish territorial organisation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ (Spanish) "Una entidad afin a CDC divide a los catalanes entre unionistas e independentistas" ABC (Spain). Retrieved 24 May 2013
  2. ↑ (Spanish) "El PNV defiende la autodeterminación y descalifica al PSE en el Aberri Eguna" El País (Spain). Retrieved 24 May 2013
  3. ↑ (Spanish) "Otegi llama 'gusanos' y 'unionistas' a los manifestantes contra ETA" El País (Spain). Retrieved 24 May 2013
  4. ↑ (Spanish) "El PNV defiende el derecho de autodeterminación frente al proyecto del unionismo de crear una España uniforme" Europa Press. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  5. ↑ (Spanish) "Una campaña del PP desmontará las “mentiras” del nacionalismo catalán" El Confidencial. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  6. ↑ (Spanish) "Basagoiti: "El PP vasco busca enfrentarse al nacionalismo, no al PSE-EE" Diario de Sevilla. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  7. ↑ (Spanish) "El PNV defiende el derecho de autodeterminación frente al unionismo que propugna el PSE y el PP" Diario La Rioja. Retrieved 24 May 2013
  8. ↑ (Spanish) "Los senadores valencianos del PSOE firman una declaración en defensa del catalán" El Mundo. Retrieved 24 May 2013.