International recognition, political alignment and ideological constraints in Basque nationalisms

413 Pages·2017·3.12 MB·English

Forging nation from exile: International recognition,
political alignment and ideological constraints
in Basque nationalisms (1956-1977)

Aurora Madaula i Giménez

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UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
Facultat de Geografia i Història
Departament d’Història i Arqueologia
Secció Història Contemporània i Món Actual

Forging nation from exile: International recognition,
political alignment and ideological constraints in
Basque nationalisms (1956-1977)

Doctoranda: Aurora Madaula i Giménez
___________________________________________

TESI DOCTORAL
DIRECTORS DE LA TESI:
Dr. Joseba Agirreazkuenaga Zigorraga
Dr. Jordi Casassas Ymbert
PROGRAMA DOCTORAT: Societat i Cultura

Barcelona, 2017

A tu, Agustí.

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Acknowledgement

Every research work needs long hours of dedication, commitment and solitude, but it
would not have been completed without the help, support and care of many people that
have come along with me throughout this time.
First of all, I would like to thank the help and guidance of all the professionals at the
libraries and archives I visited, such as the Sabino Arana Fundazioa, Lazkaoko
Beneditarren Fundazioa, Pavelló de la República (Universitat de Barcelona), Boston
University, National Archives and Records Administration (College Park, MD), Center
for Basque Studies (Reno, NV), Ateneu Barcelonès, Library of the Faculty of Geography
and History at the Universitat de Barcelona and Biblioteca de Catalunya (Barcelona).
I am highly indebted to Professor Liah Greenfeld for guiding me through nationalism and
the world of ideas and for spending with me long journeys reading, talking and discussing
topics, at her home in Boston with the company of her husband, Gil Press, and little Billy.
My deepest thanks to the Basque friends who have opened their homes, culture,
gastronomic societies, memories and even their hearts to fulfill my research and my life:
Edurne Rubio, Salba Zabala, Sabin Atxalandabaso, Eneko Irigaray, Julen Madariaga,
Xabier Kintana, Angel Rekalde, Koldo Martínez Garate, Pernando Barrena, Ramon Sota,
Iñaki Anasagasti and Iñigo Landa.
This long path wouldn't have been possible without the support, friendship and mutual
understanding of my dearest friends at the University of Barcelona: Ivan Gracia, Marta
Hidalgo, Alba Marina González, Fabien Van Geert and Marta Palacín.
Friends who have recently stepped into my life but that have never let me down and
believed in me from the very first moment: Sònia Bergós, Lidia Duch, Leire Flores,
Yolanda Paulet, Jordi Riera, Miquel Sarmiento, Gemma Aguilera and Miriam Nogueras;
and those who have been present since the long teenage summer nights in Berga and
countless Patums, building a strong friendship: Òscar Macarella, Martí Pera, Dani
Sánchez, Marta Yuste, Ricardo Jiménez, Miguel Ángel Díaz, Carol Herrera, Tere
Clemente, Alicia Boixadera and Jagoba Lekuona. I would also like to thank Anna Geli,
Francesc Cano and their son Andrèu, for having given me the necessary peace needed
from time to time, in their beautiful hotel at Val d'Aran.

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I wish to express my gratefulness to José Expósito, who supported and shared my hopes
for many years, listening to me while we were climbing mountains. This summit is also
yours.
I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude and profound respect to my supervisors
Dr. Joseba Agirreazkuenaga and Dr. Jordi Casassas, whose consistent support and advices
guided me to successfully complete this project.
I wish to show my love and gratefulness to my family: Xavi Madaula, Puig Deulofeu,
Joan Ramon Madaula, Eva Orta, Vicenç Madaula and Cristina Ortega. To my loving
nephew and nieces: Marc, Aina and Èrika.
I would also like to thank my mom, Carme Giménez, who has supported me, has patiently
listened to my Basque nationalism deliberations and cried with me the absence of my
beloved dad.
Last but not least, I am very much indebted to Agustí Colomines who encouraged me
when my strength gave out, shared his knowledge and wise advices, listened to my doubts
and fears and offered invaluable support during the course of my PhD work.

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Abstract

This research focuses on the evolution of Basque nationalism in exile during the period
1956-1977. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent establishment of
Franco dictatorship, forced the Basque Government and the Basque nationalists to flee in
exile. The exile becomes refuge and framework for the conservation and development of
Basque nationalism. The influence of the exile conditions the international relations, the
recognition of the Basque cause and ideological constraints. Through Manuel Irujo,
member of the Basque Nationalist Party and the main ideologue of nationalism in exile
during the period studied, we see how exile transforms, conditions and protects the
political nation imagined.

Resum
Aquesta investigació està centrada en l’evolució del nacionalisme basc a l’exili durant el
període 1956-1977. L’esclat de la Guerra Civil espanyola i el posterior establiment de la
dictadura franquista, van obligar el Govern basc i els nacionalistes bascos a fugir a
l’exili, que es convertirà en refugi alhora que marc per a la conservació i
desenvolupament del nacionalisme basc. La influència de l’exili condicionarà les
relacions internacionals, l’homologació de la causa basca i els referents ideològics. A
través de la figura de Manuel Irujo, membre del Partit Nacionalista basc i principal
ideòleg del nacionalisme a l’exili durant l’etapa estudiada, comprovarem com l’exili
transforma, condiciona i protegeix la construcció de la nació política imaginada.

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INDEX
Page
Abstract vii
List of abbreviations xiii
1. Proposal for the Thesis and Hypothesis 1
2. Methodological path 17
3. The World Basque Congress (1956) 27
a. The harsh reality of exile. Legitimacy and realpolitik. 27
b. Approaching to the Spanish Republican Government-in-exile. 28
c. The 1949 Basque Nationalist Party Declaration. 38
d. The Basque international politics before the Conference. The 47
American friend.
e. The end of the American dream. 54
f. The Pacts of Madrid and the shift of the helm back to Europe. 61
g. Paris, September 23rd- October 1st: Euskal Batzar Orokorra 68
i. Governing what and how? Differences between the interior and 68
exile.
ii. Gabon 1954. Organizing the Basque World Conference. 75
iii. The communists’ Reconciliación Nacional, Landaburu’s La 86
causa del Pueblo Vasco and the Americans. A Cold War mess.
iv. Imagining/ Making up the nation from exile. Differences 96
between Telesforo Monzón and Manuel Irujo.
ix