Galicianism (Galicia)
Encyclopedia
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
character whose objective is the defence of Galicia and its culture by the means of the establishment and strengthening of its own institutions.
Origins
The concept of Galicianism first appeared in the mid-nineteenth century. At that time in history it was initially known as "provincialism". Soon it was referred to as regionalismRegionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
. This was a reaction to the increased centralization of the Spanish State
Spanish State
Francoist Spain refers to a period of Spanish history between 1936 and 1975 when Spain was under the authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco....
(following the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
model of nation state) which attempted to eradicate internal administrative, and to some point cultural, differences within the country.
The term Galicianism as such was coined after the establishment of the Irmandades da Fala
Irmandades da Fala
The Irmandades da Fala was a Galician nationalist organization active between 1916 and 1936.It was the first political organization of Galicia that only used the Galician language.-Origin:...
(Brotherhoods of the Galician Language), in 1916, and the apparition of modern Galician nationalism
Galician nationalism
Galician nationalism is a political movement arguing for the recognition of Galicia as a nation. The political movement referred to as modern Galician nationalism was born at the beginning of the twentieth century from the idea of Galicianism.- Ideology :...
. The Irmandades da Fala was an organization hosting members from both the lower-middle-class and intellectuals. This organization was led by Antón Vilar Ponte
Antón Vilar Ponte
Antón Vilar Ponte was born in Viveiro in 1881 and died in A Coruña in 1936. He was one of the most important galicianists before the civil war. As a journalist he worked in A Nosa Terra, Nós, La Voz de Galicia, El Pueblo Gallego, and El Noroste....
. Within the next decade (1920s), this organization was strengthened by two groups: the nationalists, led by the Partido Galeguista
Partido Galeguista (1931)
The Partido Galeguista was a Galician nationalist party founded in December 1931. It achieved notoriety during the time of the Spanish Second Republic...
(Galicianist Party) of Castelao
Castelão
There are two association football stadiums nicknamed Castelão:*Castelão , located in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil*Castelão , located in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil-Other:...
, and the federalist republicans of ORGA. ORGA was directed by Santiago Casares and Antón Vilar
Antón Vilar Ponte
Antón Vilar Ponte was born in Viveiro in 1881 and died in A Coruña in 1936. He was one of the most important galicianists before the civil war. As a journalist he worked in A Nosa Terra, Nós, La Voz de Galicia, El Pueblo Gallego, and El Noroste....
.
Republic and Civil War
In 1931, with the coming of the Spanish Second Republic, a number of drafts for a Statute of AutonomyStatute of Autonomy
Nominally, a Statute of Autonomy is a law hierarchically located under the constitution of a country, and over any other form of legislation...
were prepared by the Galicianists. The final version was approved in December 1932 at the Municipal Assembly
Municipal assembly
Municipal assembly may refer to:* Assembleia Municipal in Portugal* Municipal assembly * People's Municipal Assembly in Algeria* Town meeting in the United States...
of the Galician capital, Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
. The Statute of Autonomy
Statute of Autonomy
Nominally, a Statute of Autonomy is a law hierarchically located under the constitution of a country, and over any other form of legislation...
was approved by referendum on 28 June 1936, and later ratified by the Spanish Parliament in 1937. However, the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and the subsequent dictatorship put an end to the prospect of autonomy. At the end of the war (1936) many Galicianists were either executed or had to leave for exile.
Galicianism during the dictatorship (1939–77)
Galicianism during Franco's dictatorship was forbidden and severely persecuted. The foundation of the Editorial Galaxia in 1950 - a publishing house promoting Galician culture and Galician languageGalician language
Galician is a language of the Western Ibero-Romance branch, spoken in Galicia, an autonomous community located in northwestern Spain, where it is co-official with Castilian Spanish, as well as in border zones of the neighbouring territories of Asturias and Castile and León.Modern Galician and...
- was a visible act of resistance. Clandestine organizations supporting the cause of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
(as an opposition to the right wing dictator) flourished in the 1950s and 1960s following the example of Editorial Galaxia and taking advantage of a timid relaxation of the dictatorial regime. Those new organizations and movements openly labelled themselves as nationalist, seeing themselves as the natural heirs of the early Galicianists (for example the Galician People's Union
Galician People's Union
The Galician People's Union is a Galician nationalist and communist political party, and is one of the registered political parties of Spain.It was founded in 1964 with the intention of the independence of Galicia and its transformation into a socialist state. It caused the creation of nationalist...
(UPG) was founded by some old Galicianists among other new members). All those organizations would claim Castelao
Castelão
There are two association football stadiums nicknamed Castelão:*Castelão , located in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil*Castelão , located in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil-Other:...
's classic work Sempre en Galiza (1944) as the ideological cornerstone for Galician contemporary nationalism and even for their own foundational principles.
Contemporary Galicianism
With the end of the Franco's dictatorship in 1977 and the passing of a new constitution in 1978, Galicianism was further strengthened up to the point that today the vast majority of political forces in Galicia call themselves Galicianist, whether they are nationalist or not, left wing or right wing.For example, unlike in other Spanish autonomous communities, the conservative People's Party of Galicia
People's Party of Galicia
The People's Party of Galicia is a centre-right political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish People's Party....
includes Galicianism (seen as strong regionalism) as one of its ideological principles. Even the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
has a strong regional flavour in Galicia, not to mention the actual main Galician nationalist party, the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG). A possible explanation for this is that Galician identity is so embedded in Galicians that any political party willing to participate in elections must at least show some degree of interest in the promotion of Galicianism, although this may range greatly from moderate regionalism to outright claims for independence.
See also
- Galician nationalismGalician nationalismGalician nationalism is a political movement arguing for the recognition of Galicia as a nation. The political movement referred to as modern Galician nationalism was born at the beginning of the twentieth century from the idea of Galicianism.- Ideology :...
- Partido Galeguista (1931)Partido Galeguista (1931)The Partido Galeguista was a Galician nationalist party founded in December 1931. It achieved notoriety during the time of the Spanish Second Republic...
- A.D.R. CastelaoCastelãoThere are two association football stadiums nicknamed Castelão:*Castelão , located in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil*Castelão , located in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil-Other:...
- Nationalities in SpainNationalities in SpainHistorically, the modern country of Spain was formed after the process known as Reconquista.Several independent Christian Kingdoms and political entities mostly independent were formed by their own inhabitants efforts under aristocrat leadership and coexisted with the Muslim Iberian states and had...
- Galician Statute of Autonomy (1936)Galician Statute of Autonomy (1936)The Galician Statute of Autonomy was a statute of autonomy for Galicia. It was voted in referendum and presented to the Spanish Parliament. Yet, it could never be implemented because of the Spanish Civil War and subsequent Francoist dictatorship...
- Galician Statute of Autonomy (1981)Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981The Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.-Genesis of the 1981 Statute:...
- Irmandades da FalaIrmandades da FalaThe Irmandades da Fala was a Galician nationalist organization active between 1916 and 1936.It was the first political organization of Galicia that only used the Galician language.-Origin:...