Spanish unionism
Spanish unionism is a term used by the Basque nationalism and Catalan independence movements to refer to the political attitude which opposes the Catalan independence movement and favours the continuity of the Kingdom of Spain as a single united nation-state.
The expression Spanish unionism has only been used since the early 2000s in the context of the Catalan independence movement. Prior to this, usage of the term was limited to Basque nationalism.
The adoption of the term unionism into the Spanish context and its loaded usage with negative connotation relates to attempts to draw parallels with the Orange Order of the Unionist movement in Ireland.
Spanish unionism is considered by Basque and Catalan nationalist parties as a political ideology identified by its denial of the exercise of the right of self-determination of the peripheral nationalities of Spain or sometimes by the simple defense of Spain as a nation. Therefore, the label has been applied to parties such as the People's Party, Spanish Socialist Workers Party , Union, Progress and Democracy and Citizens-Party of the Citizenry.
