Basque Country

The history of the construction of the liberal Spanish state has overturned the traditions and institutions of historical peripheries such as the Basque Country. Among the transformations that accompanied this upheaval was the awakening of regionalist consciousness shaped over time into a nationalism led by Sabino Arana in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Difficult to integrate into the new Spanish society Basque nationalism evolved considerably to the point of adopting a protest and separatist expression spurred on by Franco's regime and represented by the armed group ETA. Considered to be one of the most intractable challenges in contemporary Spain Basque protest nationalism has been weakened and channeled not without ambivalence by democracy. An end further illustrated by the announcement of a permanent and verifiable ceasefire by its members in October 2011.