The purpose of the diploma thesis is to look for reasons and circumstances for the preservation of the French Basques' national identity. The principal research question seeks answers that would bring key creators of the Basque identity into focus. The diploma thesis is divided into three theoretical sections. The first section presents different concepts by several sociological theorists about the birth of the nation, nationalism, ethnic groups and language. The second part focuses on the geographical description and determination of the Spanish and French share of the Basque country with regard to the functioning of the Basque separatist and independentist organisations ETA and IK which performed an important role in the establishment of the Basque nationalism. The third part touches upon the protection of the national minorities in the European Union and the status of other minorities in France, considering the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The aim of the thesis is to present the establishment of the Basque identity throughout the past and their present status in Europe.
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