Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

The XIX Congress of Basque Studies Congress, behind closed doors


11 July 2024 - 09:38

The issue of cohesion is today the first responsibility of many governments, public institutions and non-governmental organisations. Indeed, societies with low inequalities more easily generate conditions for economic, social and cultural development, better governance ecosystems and better face future challenges; peoples with cohesion have less exclusion, stronger social capital and a greater sense of belonging and confidence.

The XIX Basque Study Congress to be held from 2 to 4 October 2024 at the European Congress Palace of Vitoria-Gasteiz. In Congress, we will reflect on the steps to be taken to increase the social and territorial cohesion of the Basque Country, with the aim of improving the welfare of the Basque Country. What unites us. Under the motto People’s Pact(s) for social and territorial cohesion, we will make proposals for a country pact that will increase cohesion between citizenship and territories.

Minouche Shafik What we need each other. A new social contract (2022) [What we owe. As the book “A New Social Contract” points out, “the country pact covers everything: our political institutions, our legal and legal structures and our material conditions, as well as the family and community organization, our well-being, our relationships and our life prospects”.

Therefore, with a broad view and grasping multiple vertices, seeking cohesion, one has to focus on different fields. On the one hand, we have to start talking about a new socio-economic model: What economic development do we need? What is the future of employment? What sustainability do we guarantee? Is intergenerational solidarity possible? Drawing up proposals for the transition to a new economic model is essential.

It is essential to focus on territoriality. Work proposals to strengthen the relations between Ipar and Hego Euskal Herria and the urban and rural world; gather proposals to overcome territorial conflicts of sovereignty...

On the other hand, one must look at the relationship between the people living in the Basque Country: What benefits does social innovation bring? Could we talk about a joint Basque education system? How can Basque identity be placed in a plural and increasingly plural society? How can we ensure cultural participation by guaranteeing our rights? Varied questions that directly address the realities that integrate in our daily life.

Finally, it is essential to focus on territoriality, that is, to reflect on balance and borders between peoples. In particular, to talk about the need for dialogue between all territories, as well as to promote new relations. To develop proposals to strengthen the relations between Ipar and Hego Euskal Herria, as well as between the city and the rural environment, and to collect proposals to overcome territorial conflicts of sovereignty.

Cohesion, grass-roots pacts, welfare, development, new socio-economic model, territorial conflicts, relations between cities and the rural environment... There is no doubt that we are at the right time to address issues that are important for the future of Euskal Herria. If Euskal Herria wants to remain, we cannot ignore these issues. In fact, it came out much better than “it was over” “whatever happens.”

As a scientific-cultural association to respond to the concerns and challenges of the Basque Country, Eusko Ikaskuntza has carried out several studies related to cohesion since 2018. 18. From Congress, citizens, agents, experts and institutions have been brought together and work has been done on developing proposals to improve cohesion. At the October Congress we will have the opportunity to know the results of all these investigations.

We will also learn about the works and reflections that have been done in Euskal Herria on these topics in other institutions and areas. And we'll also have references from outside of Euskal Herria. In other words, there will also be well-known international thinkers who will help us to place the reality of Euskal Herria on a global level. A collective reflection will be made that confuses external and internal looks.

When the word congress is heard, we immediately think about university and academic reflections. The XIX Congress of Basque Studies will be attended by members of the academy, but along with them, the people who are concerned about the future of Euskal Herria, whether they are members of Eusko Ikaskuntza or not, are key. In fact, real knowledge, strategies and agreements are generated in the group. As stated in the book of Minouche Shafik: “(...) society must decide on the objective of the people’s pact, and to this end it must take account of a wide range of indicators”.

Conferences, round tables, debates, cultural performances... we have prepared an attractive and open program for October 2, 3 and 4, in which Congress creates an interesting context to reflect on the future of Euskal Herria. Therefore, anyone who wants to register has the opportunity to deepen the social and territorial cohesion of the Basque Country.

Patxi Juaristi, XIX Congress of Basque Studies President of the Congress

Bidali zure iritzi artikuluak iritzia@argia.eus helbide elektronikora

ARGIAk ez du zertan bat etorri artikuluen edukiarekin. Idatzien gehienezko luzera 4.500 karakterekoa da (espazioak barne). Idazkera aldetik gutxieneko zuzentasun bat beharrezkoa da: batetik, ARGIAk ezin du hartu zuzenketa sakona egiteko lanik; bestetik, egitekotan edukia nahi gabe aldatzeko arriskua dago. ARGIAk azaleko zuzenketak edo moldaketak egingo dizkie artikuluei, behar izanez gero.


You are interested in the channel: Irakurleen gutunak
Statement of the Basque Committee of the EITB
With this letter, the Basque Committee of the EITB and the EITB bodies that underwrite it wish to express their concern and rejection of the selection processes that have been put in place in recent months for the management positions of the EITB, since the demand for knowledge... [+]

From the Caldereros: A blackface in San Sebastian?

I don't want my daughter disguising herself as a Gypsy in the caldereros. I don’t want Gypsy children at my daughter’s school to dress up as Gypsies in caldereros. Because being a gypsy is not a disguise. Because being a gypsy is not a party that takes place once a year, with... [+]


The challenge of shortening the working day even more than 37.5 hours per week

The year 2025 will lead to a general policy of establishing shorter working weeks, bringing low costs for new hires for companies and an effective direction of change in labour relations.

With the aim of complying with the Spanish government agreement, the reform to shorten the... [+]


2025-01-29 | Aramaixo Bizirik
Assessment of the environmental report against the “Itsaraz” wind power plant
On January 16, the Ministry of Energy Transition of the Administration of Madrid published the environmental impact statement about the “Itsaraz” project that we were looking forward to and worried about. The resolution expresses a decision that is as firm as it is clear... [+]

2025-01-27 | Aritz Arrieta
The Basque host country?

To be honest, I don't know why I'm writing this. In today’s hostile environment, opinions of this kind are not well received. Perhaps LUZ will not publish this because it does not correspond to the opinions they have published so far (but if they have finally decided to publish... [+]


Don’t let the sound of money silence the buzz of bombs

On January 15, the techno-business lobby called Cedarios presented its 6th report, Euskadi and the European Union, the shared destiny of prosperity and competitiveness. This neoliberal Think Tank, made up of eminent experts drawn from the world of finance, presented a magical... [+]


The Basque Country Welcome Village

We Basques move our feet behind the witness of Korrika to proclaim that we want to survive as a Basque people in favor of our language, with the aim of the Basque Country we desire.

The tipi-tapa is the first step taken by a migrant person who leaves his homeland in Africa,... [+]


Strikes of glutamate

And for another year, the unions have organized prefabricated strikes for us. And we, individually, will decide whether or not to join the strike, without the need for any assembly at the school.

The strike model that I was taught is no longer in vogue, it seems. In my... [+]


50 years of potash strike

Today, January 21, is a day to remember and reflect on an interesting ephemeris of our recent history. It is 50 years since the lockdown of 47 workers from Potase in Navarre. This lockdown, which lasted fifteen days, caused a general strike in Navarre, the Department of the... [+]


Conversion of the military industry, ethical necessity

A couple of weeks ago, a number of data from Norway was published. In this country of Northern Europe electric cars have predominated, being the Tesla brand the most sold, with 90% of recyclable energy consumed there. On the contrary, Norwegian public enterprises have no problem... [+]


2025-01-19 | Urtzi Ugalde
Goodbye, mom

These were my last words when we left, held hand in your deep breathing sleep. Your heart stayed forever without a special, simple, dignified pain. As you want and demand. How we want and respect.

Already a month before the arrival of winter, the last days of the longest night,... [+]


2025-01-17 | Oihane Artetxe
Vulnerable children: institutional violence in our context

Today, the voices of women and children remain within a culture that delegitimizes their voices, silencing their experiences, within a system aimed at minimizing or ignoring their basic rights and needs. A media example of this problem is the case of Juana Rivas, but her story... [+]


No to the ban on political militancy!

On Tuesday, the sentence was released against five young people from Lapurdi, convicted of belonging to Segi. Fifteen months in prison for reversal to two young people, with a fine of EUR 500 each; 140 hours of forced labour and EUR 500 fine to two other young people; and,... [+]


“More with less”

The other day, as I was walking through the famous television series The Wire, there came a scene that reminded me of despair. There, the management of the newspaper The Baltimore Sun brought together the workers and alerted them to the changes that are coming, i.e. redundancies... [+]


Smartphone: our fetish king

The consumerist culture we live in sends every user to an unreasonable enjoyment. As Slavoj Zize says, Enjoy your fetish, it has become the rude mandate of hypermodernity. Current enjoyment is carried out through existing technological devices to occupy the place of fetish. But... [+]


Eguneraketa berriak daude