Reclaiming Basque: Language, Nation, and Cultural Activism (The Basque Series)

"In this superb ethnographic work of the heart and mind, Urla brings Basque language activism into new focus, analyzing it principally within Foucault's framework of governmentality, the management of the social and the self that arose with modernity."--Kathrine A. Woolard, University of California--Kathrine A. Woolard, University of California "Reclaiming Basque is an excellent study of a culture that seeks its own voice, free from the banners of France and Spain."--The Midwest Book Review--The Midwest Book Review "Jaqueline Urla has written an extraordinary book. The result of 25 years of continuous engagement with the Basque language movement and its struggle to normalize the standing and use of the Basque language, Euskara, the book is a unique contribution to our knowledge of social, political, cultural, and economic mechanisms involved in minority language revival."--The Council for European Studies--The Council for European Studies "This is the best study of the politics of Basque language use that we have in English." --Sharryn Kasmir, author of The Myth of Mondragon: Cooperatives, Politics, and Working-Class Life in a Basque Town "Reclaiming Basque is a landmark study of one of the most fascinating and controversial social movements in Europe today, offering new theoretical insights not only about the Basque Country but also about the complex relationships between nationhood and language." --Justin Crumbaugh, author of Destination Dictatorship: The Spectacle of Spain's Tourist Boom and the Reinvention of Difference

The Basque language, Euskara, is one of Europe's most ancient tongues and a vital part of today's lively Basque culture. Reclaiming Basque examines the ideology, methods, and discourse of the Basque-language revitalization movement over the course of the past century and the way this effort has unfolded alongside the simultaneous Basque nationalist struggle for autonomy. Jacqueline Urla employs extensive long-term fieldwork, interviews, and close examination of a vast range of documents in several media to uncover the strategies that have been used to preserve and revive Euskara and the various controversies that have arisen among Basque-language advocates.