Endgame for ETA

The violent Basque separatist group ETA took shape in Franco's Spain, yet claimed the majority of its victims under democracy. For most Spaniards it became an aberration, a criminal and terrorist band whose persistence defied explanation. Others, mainly Basques (but only some Basques) understood ETA as the violent expression of a political conflict that remained the unfinished business of Spain's transition to democracy. Such differences hindered efforts to 'defeat' ETA's terrorism on the one hand and 'resolve the Basque conflict' on the other for more than three decades. Endgame for ETA offers a compelling account of the long path to ETA's declaration of a definitive end to its armed activity in October 2011. Its political surrogates remain as part of a resurgence of regional nationalism - in the Basque Country as in Catalonia - that is but one element of multiple crises confronting Spain. The Basque case has been cited as an ex- ample of the perils of 'talking to terrorists'. Drawing on extensive field research, Teresa Whitfield argues that while negotiations did not prosper, a form of 'virtual peacemaking' was an essential complement to robust police action and social condemnation. Together they helped to bring ETA's violence to an end and return its grievances to the channels of normal politics.

Autorentext

Teresa Whitfield is a fellow of New York University's Center on International Cooperation. She is the author of Paying the Price: Ignacio Ellacuría and the Murdered Jesuits of El Salvador and Friends Indeed? The UN, Groups of Friends and the Resolution of Conflict.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements Glossary of Individuals and Organisations Timeline Introduction How can this be? Why the Basques? Terrorism, conflict and the Basque case 1. The Basque problem and ETA In Euskadi The shadow of violence The emergence of Basque nationalism Civil War and Franco ETA takes shape A contested transition 2. Violence, terror and talking Contacts and killing The Socialists and the GAL ETA and its world The 'two souls' of the PNV Conversations in Algiers Turning point 3. Aznar, counter-terrorism and Estella-Lizarra Pursuing the defeat of ETA Victims and the peace movement From Northern Ireland to Estella-Lizarra The ceasefire and beyond Aznar's offensive and 9/11 'All of the law' and the banning of Batasuna 4. The Basque crisis: looking for a way out Beyond impasse The Ibarretxe plan 'Basquist' socialism and the Txillare channel The great taboo Outsiders venture in 5. Zapatero's moment A second transition? Towards Anoeta Green light and broken bridges In Geneva and Oslo To a 'permanent' ceasefire 6. The ceasefire unravels The shadow of Northern Ireland Off to a shaky start Failure to launch The political track Oslo, Barajas and bust Limping forward 7. Aftermath Post mortem Terror and counter-terror, again 'Thou shalt not negotiate' Batasuna digs in International dimensions 8. Leaving violence behind Zutik (Stand up) Euskal Herria Inching forwards Hesitation and resistance Have we all gone mad? Crossing the Rubicon 9. Virtual peacemaking Winners and losers Towards endgame ETA and its prisoners Aiete The definitive end to armed activity 10. Unfinished business Rajoy's Spain, and ETA 'What do they all think they are doing here?' The prisoners as touchstone Coexistence and el relato 'Normal politics' and the challenge of an orderly end Conclusion: What can we learn from the Basque case? The long road to peace Endgame and its lessons Notes Selected Bibliography Index