Basque Militant Youths in France : New Experiences of Ethnonational Identity in the European Context

Abstract

The 'ethnonational identity' of young French Basques in France is analyzed in the context of European integration, and compared with the situation in the Spanish Basque Country. Due to the French state's refusal to recognize regional languages, transmission of the Basque language in France is characterized by ethnonationalist values. But these values have shifted recently, from an emphasis on consolidating a Basque nation to practical concerns with grassroots and sustainable development.