Galicianism is a
regionalist political movement in
Galicia.
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
regionalism. This was a reaction to the increased centralization of the
Spanish State (following the
French model of
nation state
A nation state is a political unit where the state and nation are congruent. It is a more precise concept than "country", since a country does not need to have a predominant ethnic group.
A nation, in the sense of a common ethnicity, may i ...
) 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'' (Brotherhoods of the Galician Language), in 1916, and the apparition of modern
Galician nationalism
Galician nationalism is a form of nationalism found mostly in Galicia, which asserts that Galicians are a nation and that promotes the cultural unity of Galicians. The political movement referred to as modern Galician nationalism was born at ...
. 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. Within the next decade (1920s), this organization was strengthened by two groups: the nationalists, led by the
''Partido Galeguista'' (Galicianist Party) of
Castelao, and the federalist republicans of ORGA. ORGA was directed by
Santiago Casares and
Antón Vilar.
Republic and Civil War
In 1931, with the coming of the
Spanish Second Republic
The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931, after the deposition of King Alfonso XIII, and was dissolved on 1 A ...
, a number of drafts for a
Statute of Autonomy were prepared by the Galicianists. The final version was approved in December 1932 at the
Municipal Assembly of the Galician capital,
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of S ...
. The
Statute of Autonomy was approved by referendum on 28 June 1936, and later ratified by the
Spanish Parliament
The Cortes Generales (; en, Spanish Parliament, lit=General Courts) are the bicameral legislative chambers of Spain, consisting of the Congress of Deputies (the lower house), and the Senate (the upper house).
The Congress of Deputies meet ...
in 1937. However, the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
and the subsequent
dictatorship
A dictatorship is a form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, which holds governmental powers with few to no limitations on them. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Politics in a dictatorship a ...
put an end to the prospect of autonomy. At the end of the war (1939) many Galicianists were either executed or had to leave for exile.
Galicianism during the dictatorship (1939–75)
The foundation of the
Editorial Galaxia
The Xeración Galaxia (Galaxy Generation) were a group of Galician language writers centred on the Editorial Galaxia (founded 1950) which was established to publish and translate modern texts that would develop Galician national literature. The n ...
in 1950, publishing house promoting Galician culture and
Galician language, was a visible act of resistance. Clandestine organizations supporting the cause of
Marxism
Marxism is a left-wing to far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand class relations and social conflict and a dialectical ...
(as an opposition to the 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
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Th ...
, seeing themselves as the natural heirs of the early Galicianists (for example the
Galician People's Union
The Galician People's Union ( gl, Unión do Povo Galego) is a Galician nationalist and communist political party, and is one of the registered political parties of Spain. The party publishes the magazine ''Terra e Tempo'', and the secretary general ...
(UPG) was founded by some old Galicianists among other new members). All those organizations would claim
Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao
Alfonso Daniel Manuel Rodríguez Castelao (30 January 1886 – 7 January 1950), commonly known as Castelao, was a Galician politician, writer, painter and doctor. He is one of the fathers of Galician nationalism, promoting Galician identi ...
'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 dictatorship in 1975 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
eu, autonomia erkidegoa
ca, comunitat autònoma
gl, comunidade autónoma
oc, comunautat autonòma
an, comunidat autonoma
ast, comunidá autónoma
, alt_name =
, map =
, category = Autonomous administra ...
, the conservative
People's Party of Galicia
The People's Party of Galicia ( Galician/Spanish: ''Partido Popular de Galicia'' , PP or PPdeG ) is a conservative political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish People's Party.
Prior to the 2005 Galician elect ...
includes Galicianism (seen as strong regionalism) as one of its ideological principles. Even the
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party ( es, Partido Socialista Obrero Español ; PSOE ) is a social-democraticThe PSOE is described as a social-democratic party by numerous sources:
*
*
*
* political party in Spain. The PSOE has been in gove ...
has a strong regional flavour in Galicia,
Galician President Pérez Touriño (PSdG) discussing Galicianism, from online newspaper ''Xornal.com''
/ref> not to mention the actual main Galician nationalist party, the Galician Nationalist Bloc
The Galician Nationalist Bloc ( gl, Bloque Nacionalista Galego, BNG ) is a political alliance of left-wing Galician nationalist parties. It is self-defined as a "patriotic front".
Formed in 1982, under the guidance of historical leader Xosé Man ...
(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, but it may range greatly, from moderate regionalism to outright claims for independence.
See also
*Galician nationalism
Galician nationalism is a form of nationalism found mostly in Galicia, which asserts that Galicians are a nation and that promotes the cultural unity of Galicians. The political movement referred to as modern Galician nationalism was born at ...
*Partido Galeguista (1931)
The Partido Galeguista (Galicianist Party) was a Galician nationalist party founded in December 1931. It achieved notoriety during the time of the Spanish Second Republic. The PG grouped a number of historical Galician intellectuals, and was fun ...
* A.D.R. Castelao
*Nationalities in Spain
Spain is a diverse country integrated by contrasting entities with varying economic and social structures, languages, and historical, political and cultural traditions. According to the current Spanish constitution, the Spanish nation is the ...
*Galician Statute of Autonomy (1936)
The Statute of Autonomy of Galicia of 1936 ( gl, Estatuto de autonomía de Galicia) 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 Spani ...
* Galician Statute of Autonomy (1981)
* Irmandades da Fala
References
{{Reflist
Bibliography
* Beramendi, J. and Núñez Seixas, X.M. (1996): ''O nacionalismo galego'', A Nosa Terra, Vigo
* Fernández Baz, M.A., (2003): ''A formación do nacionalismo galego contemporáneo (1963-1984)'', Laiovento
* Núñez Seixas, X.M.(1993): ''Historiographical approaches to nationalism in Spain'', Saarbrücken, Breitenbach
* Rodríguez Polo, X.R. (2009): ''O triunfo do galeguismo. Opinión pública, partidos políticos e comportamento electoral na transición autonómica''. Madrid: Editorial Dykinson.
* Rodríguez Polo, X.R. (2009): ''Ramón Piñeiro e a estratexia do galeguismo''. Vigo: Xerais.
History of Galicia (Spain)
Political ideologies
Galician nationalism