Abstract:
This thesis examines the political autonomy campaigns of subnational entities.
Subnational entities may be defined as political entities located below the state level
whose members are connected through historic territories and socio-cultural identities.
Catalonia and the Basque Country are presented as the two case studies of this thesis
and are approached with a comparative framework. From the outset, an examination
of the Westphalian state structure of the international political system is provided,
with particular emphasis on the political position of subnational entities. The thesis
then utilises the contemporary phenomenon of international migration and explores
the international immigration trends that affect Catalonia and the Basque Country.
The potential tension at the intersection of international immigration and subnational
autonomy campaigns is analysed, guided by the question of whether Catalonia or the
Basque Country approach foreign immigration as a hindrance or a help to their
political autonomy campaigns. The integration policies of Catalonia and the Basque
Country are then assessed, as well as an analysis of the alternative political relations
which Catalonia and the Basque Country have formed based upon the issue of foreign
immigrant integration.
This thesis finds that although the sovereign state structure continues to dominate the
international political system, Catalonia and the Basque Country demonstrate how
subnational autonomy campaigns continue to be pursued. Furthermore, this thesis
finds that Catalonia and the Basque Country have recently utilised the issue of foreign
immigrant integration as a stratagem for enhancing their informal political
competencies.
