The rise of subnational independence movements in France: Explaining subnationalism in France: Brittany as a study case
Translated title
Author
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-07-29
Pages
210
Abstract
Why did a national movement emerge in Brittany? Seeking to answer this question, the paper examines the root causes of subnationalism in a now globalized world in which the progress toward a Europe of Regions as opposed to a Europe of States has encouraged the emergence or a re-birth of subnational movements. France represents an interesting case as, despite a process of decentralization in 1982, it remains unwilling to accommodate demands for more linguistic and administrative autonomy to its regions. Complementary, Brittany is an interesting analytical choice for its particular sociological and geographical features. The methodological framework applied in the paper is constructed around a causal research design in which theoretical frames are distinguished; one emphasizing the importance of the language, the other the importance of a fascist component and the last one the importance of a socialist turn. Nonetheless, they all revolve around a Marxist approach in which the importance is given to the representation of particular social classes. After translating these two frames into separate hypotheses, both are tested against an empirical foundation consisting of qualitative set of data. Twenty interviews were carried around Brittany with members of Breton nationalist political parties in order to analyze their motivations and attitudes: the party “Adsav Breizh” established in 2000, a far-right party based on a nationalism doctrine, the “Breton Party” established in 2002, a centrist party that gives primacy to Brittany's political independence and eschews the traditional left- wing/right-wing distinction and the party “Breizhistance” established in 2009, a far-left party based on a struggle for national liberation. The paper points to the relevance of applying theories from authors that have written about nationalism before 1950 in a current Breton context as similar characteristics can be found. Furthermore, this paper concludes that the two hypotheses are both partially explaining the root causes of Breton nationalism. However, nationalist movement as a mean of gaining personal interests presents only weak explanatory power while an important emphasis is given to explaining nationalism as a way to protect an existing community. Giving legitimacy to the two working hypotheses, nonetheless, should not prevent researcher to seek further explanatory factors. Nationalism cannot be seen as homogeneous and each nationalism is constitutional of e.g a period or geographic situation.
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