Connecting the Basque and Icelandic Cases: An Ethnographic Chronicle about Democratic Regeneration...

Connecting the Basque and Icelandic Cases: An Ethnographic Chronicle about Democratic Regeneration.

• By Dr Igor Calzada: http://www.igorcalzada.com/2014/03/basque-iceland-connection-september-september-2013 • Fieldwork bitakora of ‘Iceland’ case in the project: www.cityregions.org • Published by Open Democracy (14/01/2015): www.opendemocracy.net

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Connecting the Basque and Icelandic Cases:

An Ethnographic Chronicle about Democratic Regeneration.

Abstract:

This article aims to connect Iceland and the Basque Country from the democratic

regeneration perspective. The time frame chosen for the case studies is the period before

and after 2008 global crisis. In Iceland the crisis had an economic and political aspect

affecting the self-understanding of the territory as a whole. In the Basque Country it

also deals with the current peace process to settle down political violence and its causes.

In both cases there are deep underlying democratic regeneration issues. This article is

part of a broader research project entitled ‘Benchmarking Future City-Regions’

(www.cityregions.org).

Keywords:

Democracy, regeneration, critical social innovation, Basque Country, Iceland,

ethnography, territory, connection and comparison.

Igor Calzada

Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities, COMPAS, University of Oxford, 58

Banbury Road, OX2 6QS, Oxford. UK & Ikerbasque. Spain. E-mail:

[email protected]



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Introduction

Contemplating about Iceland from the Basque Country1 could be seen as a

remote exercise, even more so when it refers to carrying out ethnographic fieldwork2.

This is exactly what I attempted doing my second visit to Reykjavik on the 23rd to the

29th of September 2013. I was already familiar with Iceland—its peculiarities,

remarkable language, music, literature, filming, and even its celebrities. I have

connected not only by my scientific curiosity, but also by my emotional—even

spiritual—sensitivity. Emotional landscapes can travel quickly from remote places:

from the volcanic and resilient smallness of Iceland to another tiny complex and diverse

corner between Spain and France, the Basque Country. I am Basque—yet I write my

surname with a non-Basque letter ‘C’. I have been ‘touched’ by Iceland as a whole

piece of outstanding isolated ‘whiteness’. Similarly, even though I have been in Iceland

separately in the past—2007—having the same scientific purpose as in 2013, I was

impressed and shared my hypothesis on how the language, landscapes, and the most

charismatic asset of the island, its people, have something to do with my homeland, the

Basque Country.

Seemingly, we can dare to link Basques and Icelanders regarding the smallness

of territory, the relationship between Basque whalers and Icelanders and even our

‘unique’ languages. However, despite the historical links between Iceland and the

Basque Country (Edvardsson and Rafnsson 2006) dating back to the sixteenth century, I

have not found any published comparative study in my research fields about

1 http://www.theguardian.com/the-report/basque-country

2 http://www.igorcalzada.com/2014/03/basque-iceland-connection-september-september-2013



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contemporary Iceland and the Basque Country. As Jón the Learned conveys in the

Spánverjavígin saga, the relationship between Basque whalers and Icelanders reached a

tragic peak in 1615, when approximately 30 of the former were slaughtered in the

region of the West Fjords. However, they are two societies that may benefit from

connecting with each other. They are struggling to depart from a crisis that is more than

financial, and they need to readjust their governance systems to the changes in the last

few years. Both require a deep democratic regeneration.

Democratic Regeneration

That was my main hypothesis—to attempt to connect, rather than compare, to the

Icelandic and the Basque case. Indeed, there is a slightly common factor at present in

the social sciences to compare two territories by carrying out ‘benchmarking’3. I do not

dare to proceed with such a complex analysis insofar as my aim was to follow my

intuition and check my hypothesis:

• Like the Basque Country, Iceland also after struggled after the 2008 crisis to rise

above its predicament.

• Iceland was the first country hit by the 2008 financial crisis with dramatic

democratic consequences. The source of the crisis was mainly the financial collapse

that left the country with no credit, and in a socio-economic emergency. I focused

on the source of the crisis and the way Icelanders explained the causes and the

ongoing process to overcome it. I sought to answer the following question: If there

has been some democratic social innovation or regeneration in Iceland after the

crisis, what relationship does it have with ethics? What is its moral core?

3 http://cityregions.org/comparative-territorial-connection/empirical-approach/iceland



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• With the Basque Country, the ceasefire announced by ETA in 2011 led to overcome

the lack of peace and deficient normalised political or institutional life.

• In this globalised context, both countries required to restructure their governance

systems to adapt them positively. In the two cases, the democratic regeneration was

the outcome by having similar ethical and political implications. They shared some

features concerning their comparative small size and identity (unique local language

and culture dealing with the bigger player in a global arena). I wondered whether

some of the transformations (e.g., social innovations) that emerged in Iceland during

the Kreppa years (2008-2013) could apply to the crisis in the Basque Country in the

new post-violence situation (the ETA’s ceasefire from 2011 onward). In addition,

could we suggest micro-social innovative cases such as cooperativism or

plurilingualism, among other features?

• As different as Iceland and the Basque Country are, both situations involved hope

for a regeneration of the democratic system, and both raise questions such as: What

has really been happening in Iceland? What is the nature of the change or innovation

that has emerged? In what way is it special or different from the Basque case?

Therefore, I was interested in looking into two main research challenges:

• First, I wanted to make clear the underlying ethics (presuppositions, emerging

topics and emotions) and strategic critical social innovation trends (social

networks, economic solidarity and contested anti-neoclassic economic

orthodoxy initiatives) around themes such as the political innovation at the

global and local scales. I was also interested in the meaning of the crisis and its

impact on democracy (before and after 2008), the influence of technology and

social movements in this hypothetical social transformation, and the role of



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different stakeholders and the macro and micro socio-economic real alternatives

in contrast with the neoclassical economic orthodoxy agenda. I also wanted to

examine how we could connect the Basque and Icelandic cases under this

similar thematic umbrella.

• Second, I wanted to reconnect not only Icelanders and Basques through our two

political systems, but also apply ethics and critical social innovation to our

comparative research project.

I presented4 the results of the fieldwork in Reykjavik, in the University of Iceland,

on September 27th of 2013. Here are the fieldwork research rationale and the main

conclusions:

Fieldwork

As Hoeg (2005) stated, ‘There is only one way to understand another culture.

Living it’. Trying to make my hypothesis precise, I set up a research agenda and design

an intensive fieldwork in Reykjavik by using the qualitative, semi-structured method. I

interviewed eight discussants, mainly academics but also policy-makers and politicians.

With fieldwork research, one receives gratitude one deserves as a social scientist

by temporary ‘living’ a culture, an atmosphere and a society. I applied a methodology

by merging two disciplines, Applied Ethics and Critical Social Innovation for

Territories. I depicted this methodological approach by using a glacier:

4 Here is the presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/icalzada/briefing-basque-iceland-connetion-dr-calzada-casado-university-of-

iceland-reykjavik-27rd-sept-2014



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On the one hand, through the framework, I considered the social problematic

issues of the Icelandic crisis, as addressed by Critical Social Innovation, in becoming

much more complex due to deepening, mutually reinforced socio-economic, socio-

political and socio-ecological crises (Moulaert et al., 2013). On the other hand, I tried to

account for the ways in which social practices are laden with judgements of moral value

(Dunn et al., 2012). I proceeded with the following methodological factors for each

discipline that assisted me in the fieldwork process:

Critical Social Innovation Applied to Territories

Applied Ethics



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In addition, here is the outcome and the methodological matrix in which I proceeded to

gather qualitative data:

Main Conclusions

Instead of presenting the entire methodological process and the specific

conclusion about this research project, I aim to conclude this ethnographic chronicle

with a summary in which I draw on the main suppositions of my research. The specific

content of this research will undergo publication entitled Demos-Ethos: A framework to

study the Basque and Icelandic cases through Critical Social Innovation and Applied

Ethics shortly in the Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research.

According to the Financial Times (09/27/2013), Iceland seemed to enjoy

‘abundant natural resources that even the most over exuberant financiers and politicians

could not damage too much’. At present, this statement is fair and true after the 2008

crash.

I connected the Basque observation with the Icelandic reality throughout two main

crises that had in common their democratic regeneration imperatives. These are the

main five conclusions:

• Iceland’s material, spatial and economic system (URBS), proved the country was

well balanced and ready for any unexpected vulnerable circumstances. The crises

mainly hit Iceland but its reaction was quick by keeping the main economic factors



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in favour of the solution. Indeed, sustainability and well-being were the main

structural factors in the regional development policies. In addition, being small and

resilient made Iceland stronger by having such a well-connected territory between

the hub (Reykjavik) and the periphery (Akureyri, Kópavogur, Harnarfjördur,

Keflavik, and others). Some of the sources to overcome the crisis and settle down

the economy were the real microeconomic recovery sectors, such as fishing and

tourism.

• Iceland’s physical, digital and social connectivity systems (CYBER) were the

dynamic and modifiable ‘liquid’ artefacts. We cannot forget the spark the

‘kitchenware revolution’ propagated through social media such as Facebook. People

demonstrated a collective defence of the means for happiness and social well-being

by network-driven, new communitarian social reconfiguration. It should be also

noted that digital connectivity and the physical proximity between culturally diverse

peers enabled a socio-political new agenda and situation by presenting a social

capital that still exists to date. Iceland started partially regenerating its political

structures mainly due to the outstanding usage of the physical, digital and social

connectivity as a response to an emergence.

• Iceland’s citizenship, entrepreneurial and migration systems (CIVITAS) depicted an

emotionally well-channelled activism. To face the massive threat of collapse, people

self-managed and organised a civic level activist survival strategy; a Pots and Pans

revolution in the streets was the main example. In addition, it should be added that

in contrast with the Basque case, in Iceland, citizens channelled their collective

anger without violence, and enabled public deliberation. Streets were synonymous

with the public space to protect the basic rights of the citizenship. From the social



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innovation perspective, the transition from activism towards entrepreneurship did

not proceed by being in jeopardy. Citizenship assumed the responsibility of

contributing to the financial ‘bubble’.

• Iceland’s political system changed dramatically before and after 2008 due to a

massive dissatisfaction with the conventional political system (POLIS). Therefore,

the outcome of that context was an internal political fragmentation in permanent and

ongoing transition until present days. It is noteworthy that the confrontation between

the declining dominant mass media, and the alternative social media-driven politics,

was produced in this transition. Social media became the collective intelligence of

‘togetherness’ after a fragile, broken democratic system. The transition fostered a

permanent celebration of cultural diversity by entertainment politics without

populism. However, among the celebration and the victory, there was a new civilian

principle: ‘Lack of impunity and zero tolerance when trust or social capital is

broken’.

• Therefore, by presenting dilemmas in the political transition, Iceland has been inside

its own tunnel in an ongoing re-examination. Nowadays, the process, not yet closed

and culminated, shows a national identity based on independence, modernity and

uniqueness. There is myth already perceived as the ‘Icelandic miracle’, in reference

to how a revolution transformed a bankruptcy by forcing it to a point of reversal.

This set up a new critical order with permanent contestation, but also caused

uncertainty and fear of a constitutional reform due to lack of consensus. Finally, this

delicate and opened context leaves a pending question for Icelanders that could be

named ‘the European dilemma’: can Iceland retain itself within the EU context

without any institutional protection? This is a pending question for Iceland as a



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small state that provides hints to the Basque Country, another city-regional small

nation that faces a future path by being as small as Iceland.

Hence, after connecting the Basque and the Icelandic cases in this research

project, here now is my final conclusion: ‘Small5 is beautiful.’

Postscript:

For the last part of my fieldwork research in Iceland, we went to Thingvellir. It is said

that the first parliamentary assembly in Europe took place in a region called Thingvellir,

in southern Iceland (the so-called Althingi). I confess it was the perfect ending as to

contemplate how the Basques and Icelanders already connected throughout their

democratic recovery ties. Moreover, in Thingvellir, as viewed from the Basque

perspective, Auden described Iceland as depicting three kind of landscapes: ‘Rocky,

very rocky and completely rocky’.

A day after Thingvellir, something even more magic occurred: I bumped into Björk in

the local supermarket and I thought in this poem—half in Icelandic and half in Basque

language—as the best feeling to recover the inner connection between Iceland and the

Basque Country, once again:

Takk fyrir, Iceland, zugatik pintatzen dituzte hospitaleak zuriz (oraindik).6

5 http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/when-small-beautiful-lessons-highly-innovative-smaller-countries

6 Thank you Iceland, the hospital are painted in white (still) because of you.



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Biographical data: http://www.igorcalzada.com/about Dr Igor Calzada MBA is a Lecturer, Research Fellow and Senior Policy Adviser at: 1) the University of Oxford (UK) Programme for the Future of Cities, COMPAS, InSIS, and the Department of Politics & International Relations, 2) University of Strathclyde, Institute for Future Cities in Glasgow (Scotland) and 3) Birmingham Aston University, Policy & Sociology Department (UK). In addition to this, he is a James Oxford Martin School Fellow. He held a PostDoctoral Research Fellow position at the Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque (2012-2014) and he was Lecturer & Senior Researcher at the University of Mondragon Unibertsitatea a part of the Mondragon Co-operative Corporation Group located in the Basque Country (Spain) for more than ten years (2000 <). He got his PhD (2005-2011) at the University of Mondragon (Spain) that was carried out (2008-2009) at the University of Nevada (USA). Dr Calzada is an expert in research and policy-making projects on city-regional policies, social innovation, territorial development and strategies and governance.

He has been presented with three Research Fellowship from 2008 to the present time to research on Regional Comparative Studies: In 2008 and 2009, a Research Predoctoral Award by the Spanish Princess, in 2012, a Research Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Basque Government and Ikerbasque and recently, the Regional Studies Association RSA Early Career Grant.

He has been Associate Researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno (USA); worked as Director of Research & Innovation at the Vice-Ministry of the Basque Government; has carried out research, on the 5th, 6th and 7th FP of the EU; has worked for 10 years in the Mondragon MCC. He has been and is working as an International Strategic & Innovation Advisor for institutions & companies.

He obtained the Advanced Studies degree at the University of Helsinki, Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research (Finland). He also has MBA from the Faculty of Economics & Business Administration ESTE in the University of Deusto. He graduated in Political Science & Sociology from the University of Deusto.

He is member of the following institutions as his professional qualifications:

• Regional Studies Association (RSA) • James Oxford Martin School

Nowadays, he is the curator of the Politics in Spires Special Series entitled 'Between Independence & Re-centralization: Political Innovation in an Age of Devolution'.

Dr Calzada’s academic contributions include 6 books, about 10 articles and chapters, more than 40 conference/seminar papers and more than 40 other papers (most of the latter are in Spanish and Basque). These include: a chapter in the International Handbook of Social Innovation published by Edward Elgar on the Mondragon Co-operative case-study and edited by Frank Moulaert et al. (2013); the article Unplugging: Deconstructing the Smart city published by the Journal of Urban Technology; the article Demos & Ethos: A Framework to study the Basque and Icelandic cases through Critical Social Innovation and Applied Ethics published by Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research and the article Critical Social Innovation in the Smart city era for a City-regional European Horizon 2020 in the P3T Journal of Public Policies & Territory.

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