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Ten 2016 in-depth stories to (re)read at Christmas time
1. Andalusia: the reorganization of the nationalist space
Three new parties are seeking to fill the vacuum left by the historic Andalusian Party, dissolved in 2015. Each of the them proposes a different approach to Andalusia-Spain relations, ranging from more moderate positions to independence. Nationalia spoke to their representatives, as well as to Andalusian Youth organization.
2. Italy: the constitutional referendum and Matteo Renzi's fall
2016 ends with the fall of another illustrious European head of government: Italian PM Matteo Renzi resigned after the "no" won in the referendum on a constitutional amendment that he himself had promoted. We approached the story both in terms of state- and regional-level analysis, which is especially important in such a complex and diverse country as Italy is.
3. South Tyrol: participatory democracy and the Statute reform
Italy's autonomous province of South Tyrol is undertaking a process of reform of its Statute of Autonomy in which, apart from political parties, citizencs have also been invited to take an active role through several instances and official forums. EURAC researchers Stephen J. Larin and Marc Röggla dissect the process —for good and bad.
4. Veneto: struggling to emerge as a stateless nation
It has often been argued that Veneto bears the potential to become one of Europe's main stateless nations. And yet, the former Most Serene Republic has never reached that point. Stefano Zambon, a member of new left-wing party Sanca Veneta, explains why.
5. Europe: the new reference tool for language rights
The Basque city of Donostia (San Sebastián) witnessed the birth of the Protocol to Ensure Language Rights, a text that is set to become a key tool for European civil society to promote both linguistic diversity and rights of speakers of all languages. The Protocol is a new milestone on the road started, 20 years ago, by the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights.
6. Abkhazia: a language policy aimed to promote Abkhaz... or Russian?
The Abkhaz language is endangered even in its home country Abkhazia, a republic that proclaimed itself independent from Georgia but that increasingly lives linked to Russian power. Sandra Veloy explains in this article how the language policy of Abkhaz authorities signals the retreat of Georgian while this, paradoxically, widens the space for an even more powerful language: Russian.
7. Kurdistan/Turkey: a Yazidi MP against repression from the Turkish government
Feleknas Uca is a Yazidi MP to the Turkish Parliament and a member of the mainly Kurdish, left-wing HDP party. In this interview, Uca talks about the state of repression that Kurdistan is currently undergoing since July coup in Turkey, and explains how she faces the risk of being arrested.
8. Syria: reporting on the nightmare of a never ending war
Zain Erhaim is a Syrian journalist who does not restrict herself to explaining what is happening in her war-torn country, but who is training new generations of reporters. In this interview, she talks about people's understandings of the war and what the conflict's effects on present and future coexistence within Syria are.
9. Kurdistan/Iraq: has independence time arrived... or not yet?
For years, Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been talking of a referendum that will eventually lead it to independence. KRG President Massud Barzani has said that the Mosul offensive against ISIS could be the window of opportunity needed to achieve it. Analysts, however, are unsure about that.
10. United States: under Trump, changes foreseen in foreign policy
In the international arena, probably the biggest news of the year is the election of Donald Trump as the new president of the United States. His international policy is still largely unknown. From Israel to China and from Russia to Kurdistan, we asked CIDOB and IGADI experts to try and make out what is to be expected from the next occupant of the White House.