Wednesday Talk

Plural Spain: Its Constitutional System and The Methods of Struggle with the Seperatist Terror
Akın Özçer

In the first Wednesday Talks of 2007 we hosted Mr. Akın Özçer, whose latest book was published by Imge Publications: Plural Spain: Its Constitutional System and The Methods of Struggle with the Seperatist Terror.

Mr. Özçer discussed the historical and contemporary roots of Bask nationalism by referring to the French Revolution and The Industralisation process in Spain. According to Özçer the methods that are used by Spain in dealing with the separatist Terror varies from counter-attacks to the process of dialog. With the EU membership Spain was engaged with the new democratic methods such as ceasefire on the basis of the condition for opening a space for the legitimate political struggle.

Özçer, summarized the political development in the last thirty years since 1976 until today. Spain as a case can be compared to Turkey in many sense. It is argued that the problems related with the separatism cannot be solved by fear from “dividing the country”, xenophobia and counter violence, rather the solution lies with the collective and social consensus and legitimate political struggle.