Basque nationalism For several decades, the Basque Country has been plagued by political unrest with its neighboring countries, which are both France and Spain. This conflict which troubles the region finds its origins in the Basque nationalist movement which campaigns for its independence. This transit territory benefits from a strategic geographical location which connects it to the northwest and center of Spain but also to other European countries. The Basque Country covers more than 20,000 square kilometers of French and Spanish territory. So this is a key factor as to why the Spanish and other powerful countries are interested in this area. Nationalism was an important historical movement in the region that brought conflict but also unity to the Basque Country. Basque nationalism, which is "a political movement advocating the full independence of the Basque Country", has been mainly supported on Spanish territory. rather than the French (Barnes, “Basque and Catalan Nationalism: An Evolution”). Throughout the country, two main groups have publicly promoted nationalist ideas toward their countries. As Arnaldo Otegi said, “the separatist group ETA has been campaigning for 34 years to demand independence from Spain.” Unfortunately, they have not always used peaceful means to express their ideas and feelings on this sensitive issue. They are responsible for the murder of hundreds of demonstrators. “Foreign authorities such as the French, British and Americans labeled them terrorists” for all these crimes for which they were responsible (“World History: The Modern Era” 754). Another group that represents this ideology would be the Basque Nationalist Party, which was "founded in 1895 in Bilbao by a journalist named Sabino de Arana y Goiri to run in local elections" (Britannica, "Basque Nationalist Party"). The party quickly expanded across the country and gained influence. It “adopted a moderate Christian Democratic position, supporting a mixed economy and opposing free capitalism” (Britannica “Basque Nationalist Party”). After that, the party gained influence, won a third of the electoral votes and nominated several members to the Spanish Parliament in Madrid. After legislation granted autonomy to the Basque Country in October 1936, the Basque nationalist group formed an independent government. This then led them to "establish an alliance with Republican forces against General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War" (Britannica, "Spanish Civil War"). Franco's nationalist forces won this war and it was the beginning of his dictatorship which lasted almost four decades..