Nationalism and Democracy. Manuel Irujo Ollo: The Leadership of a Heterodox Basque Nationalist

Manuel Irujo Ollo was one of the most prominent leaders of moderate Basque nationalism. Irujo, who was born in 1891 and died in 1981 at the age of 89, had a Basque, Spanish, and European dimension to his political career, which was perhaps the most enduring and intensive of any leader to emerge during the entire history of this socio-political movement. Yet Irujo’s political life remains largely quite unknown: no comprehensive academic biography has been written on his political work. Obviously, this article does not pretend to fill this void. Instead, it aims to cast a light on the nationalist leader’s political life from the twofold perspective of his individual political activity and the lessons that can be learned for a broader understanding of Basque nationalism in particular and of the relationship between nationalism and democracy in general.