Violent Nationalism in Catholic Communities: The Provisional IRA and ETA
In: Studies in ethnicity and nationalism: SEN, Band 7, Heft 3, S. 64-77
ISSN: 1754-9469
AbstractThis paper will examine how the Provisional IRA and Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna ‐ Basque Country and Freedom ‐ (ETA) sought to legitimise and gain support for a campaign of urban guerrilla warfare by casting themselves in the role of defenders of a Catholic community. The need to reconcile the acceptance of violent action and Catholic religious beliefs led to a strong emphasis on the morality of the struggle waged by both groups during the early years of their existence. Interestingly, this definition of morality was grounded in Catholic teaching, forcing both organisations to challenge the leadership of the ecclesiastical authorities.