The missing Link: Religious Socialization and nationalist Commitment in the Basque Country

Abstract

International audience

This article examines the links between religious socialization and a militant commitment in favour of Basque identity. Discussion focuses on the influence that Catholicism has had upon the world views held by Basque activists, influence which is to be found in discourse and in repertoires of action. This research which compares the French and Spanish Basque areas concentrates on the generation of former seminarians and priests who participated in the religious and political crisis of the 1960-1970s. Internal protest within the seminaries coincided with a radicalization of the political struggle. The article starts with methodological considerations, before considering the three biographical phases of militant socialization. Throughout, an attempt is made to isolate the role played by religious experiences.