Eta ends its war, but nationalism lives on

Feature analyses the significance of Eta, the Basque separatist force, announcement in October 2011 that it would end its armed struggle to create an independent Basque nation in northern Spain and south-west France after a 52 year campaign of violence.

The timing of Eta’s abandonment of the armed struggle was a result not only of its military weakness but also of pressure from its radical Basque nationalist allies. They had shown they could win power at the ballot box and believed Eta’s commitment to violence would block more gains.

ESO: Background information: Basque militants lay down weapons http://www.europeansources.info/record/basque-militants-lay-down-weapons/

El País, 30.10.11: Life after ETA (editorial) http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Life/after/ETA/elpepueng/20111030elpeng_7/Ten

El País, 27.10.11: If we'd had political channels, the armed struggle wouldn't have existed http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/If/we/d/had/political/channels/the/armed/struggle/wouldn/t/have/elpepueng/20111027elpeng_6/Ten

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