The Basque power‐sharing experience: from a destructive to a constructive conflict?

Abstract

Neither the devolution of powers to the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain nor more than a decade of power-sharing within this region has led to a peaceful settlement of the Basque conflict. Combining Kriesberg's approach to conflict resolution and consociational theory, past power-sharing experiences are analysed. The lack of overarching loyalties, traditions of compromise, comprehensive participation and the continuation of violence have frustrated power-sharing. After the 2006 ceasefire, the conditions for giving the conflict a constructive turn have not fundamentally changed. The potential for alternative forms of power-sharing as a way out of the Basque conflict, combined or not with innovative territorial arrangements cannot be employed because of multi-scale polarisation. De-escalation as a prerequisite for new types of power-sharing arrangements requires relearning democratic pluralism and a recognition of ethnic hybridity in this politically and geographically fragmented society.

Power‐sharing coalitions in the Basque Country (1987–1998): centripetal coalitions vs. consociational coalitions

“…In 1994, in a context of spectacular growth of the most extreme unionist options, the socialists lost 25 per cent of their parliamentary representation. Once again, it is clear that the party which suffered was the PSE‐EE‐PSOE, contrary to the opinion of Mansvelt Beck (: 76) who, without offering empirical data, concludes that the electoral losses were “by the PNV and EA during the grand coalition”. Firstly, EA did not form part of the Basque government until 1994, and secondly, the figures are clear: Among the parties that made up the government, the Basque nationalist segment gained in comparison with the unionist one.…”

“…However, behind this idea, there was no case analysis using Arend Lijphart's ( and ) consociational scheme. The result was an intuitive exercise that spread in academic circles (Laiz Castro ; Lecours and Moreno ; Mansvelt Beck ; Moreno , ; Pérez‐Nievas ).…”