Neo Westphalian Europe Part 31: Cantonal Republic of Andalusia

The Republic of Andalusia is another region on the Iberian Peninsula that has a storied history in its independence. It is of course well remembered as the region where Jew, Christian and Muslim lived in the most harmony, back in the late dark ages and early middle ages. Even if this tale is somewhat mythic in nature, many national identities are after all; it is still a positive idea to hold to a world currently embroiled in a devastating round of Crusades.

However it is likely that the new Andalusian state will focus much less on the theocracy of its inhabitants. Andalusia is also known for its peasant revolts in the 1800’s and thus its early experiments with Anarchism. The peasants threw off the yoke of the Monarchy at times and experimented with the republican ideas being spread by the aftermath of the French revolution. They tended to focus on the ideology of Cantonalism to run these republics by. 

These early experiments then heavily influenced the later Anarchists, who were so prevalent during the Civil War of the 1930’s. In the modern era we are of course seeing another great experiment in Anarchism taking place in the region of Rojava, in Syria. They have in fact returned to an era of Cantonalism in this area. Many have pointed out the remarkable similarities between the conflict currently raging in Syria and that which raged in Spain in the 1930’s

Therefore it is hypothesised here that, as Andalusia gains its independence again during the coming break up, it will most likely become a place that the Anarchists of the peninsula will flock too, as they experiment with their model of governance. Again it is hypothesised that, to avoid a new outbreak of civil war,  a number of experiments will take place across the peninsula simultaneously. As long as no one ideology attempts to take over its neighbours, this should prevent an outbreak of a new civil war. Monarchists in Astur-Leon should be able to live comfortably next door to their Anarchist neighbours. 

Indeed this is the true crux of what a world restored to Westphalianism should look like. Westphalian principles, such as no one being allowed to force what theocracy a population follows on their neighbours, can be expanded on to include which model of governance and social organisation they choose to run their affairs under as well.

The eastern regions of the Andalusia Autonomous Community currently have their own independence movement. There is also a competing claim to some of this land from the neighbouring nation of what will be Cartagena. Therefore it is hypothesised here that some of the east will actually remain within an Andalusian republic, however the parts claimed by Cartagena will be ceded to it. As well as this, it has previously been noted, that it is unlikely an Extremaduran state could survive as a landlocked entity. Therefore the Leonese speaking northern province would go to Astur-Leon and the Castilian speaking south would be a part of this new Andalusian confederation. 

Finally it would make sense that, with all the changes taking place around the continent, Gibraltar would finally reunite with the Cadiz province. A stipulation protecting their language rights should ease concerns, of former British citizens living in the region, that they will face hardships under the new arrangement. Given that the United Kingdom will be no more and that Spain itself will be no more, this should not be seen as a problematic development as it was to the geopolitical order of old.

This would leave a new Andalusian nation made up of the Huelva, Seville, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaen and Granada Provinces, currently in the Andalusia Autonomous Community, in Spain. Added to this will be the Badajoz Province, currently in the Extremadura Autonomous Community, also formerly in Spain.

The flag of Andalusia is another flag that shows the left leaning stance this republic will take. It consists of the colours of the flag of the current Andalusian Autonomous Community. This flag was adopted in 1918 by nationalists of the time. However they remained in a union with Spain at that time. The modern flag replaces the coat of arms with the socialist star. This flag was created by the Nacion Andaluza party and was adopted in 1991. It is now used by the broader milieu of nationalists.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 30: Portuguese Republic

The Portuguese Republic is the region of the Iberian Peninsula that was historically inhabited by the Portuguese speakers. It was populated by speakers of the parent language that would later evolve into Galician and further south into Portuguese. Portugal was originally the County of Portugal, in the Kingdom of Leon. It was named after the Galician Port of Cale. Portus Cale eventually became Portugal in the common tongue of the region. 

In the 1100’s it successfully seceded from the Kingdom of Leon and became an independent nation on the Peninsula. It thus became one of the longest continuing nations in the region. The only major change it went through was in the early 20^th century, when it ended its Monarchy and became a Republic. With such a long and stable history it does not seem that too much change will occur in this territory, during the great shake ups ahead. However there will be some territorial losses to neighbouring states, as they restore themselves to traditional borderlines.

This will leave a rump Portugal made up of the following territories. The Porto, Vila Real, Braganca, Avero, Viseu, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Leiria, Santarem, Portalegre, Lisboa, Evora, Setubal, Beia and Faro Districts, currently in Portugal, will remain a part of this nation. 

The Aguiar da Beira, Ce lorico da Beira, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas, Meda, Pinhel, Seia, and Trancoso municipalities, of the Guarda District also in Portugal, will remain as well. Also in Guarda District half of the Almeida and Sabugal municipalities and a large part of the Villa Nova de Foz Coa municipality, which are situated west of the Coa River, will remain in this nation. Finally Portugal has some legal claims to territory in neighbouring Spain, which will be ceded back to them as the borders in the region find their new places. This means that the Tailga and Olivenza Municipalities, in Badajoz Province of the Extremadura Autonomous Community, currently in Spain will be ceded to this new country.

The flag of the Portuguese Republic is the one adopted in 1911, after the overthrow of the Monarchy and the establishment of the Republic. The colours are the colours of the Portuguese republican movement, from the previous century.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 29: Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of the remote, overseas territories, of the current Spanish state. As with most of the projected changes here, as centralised states on the continent fail, their overseas possessions will see no further use to be a part of these historical colonial powers. Indeed this will be the long sought after decolonisation, which so many on the left have advocated for. Which is another reason why it is so surprising that the modern left is so resistant to the return of nationalism, when it is the only way that such a decolonisation will occur. We saw a similar rise of nationalism, particularly in Africa, during the 1960’s and 70’s waves of decolonisation. 

As well as the Canary Islands gaining full independence it therefore stands to reason that the African territories of Spain, in Cuta and Melilla, will be returned to Morocco. It is surprising that more Europeans are not in favour of this at the moment, given the great help it will give in easing the migrant crisis, by not having an outpost of the EU on the continent.

This means that the Canary Islands independence movement should now prevail, with no opposition to it. This will leave a new nation made up of the Las Palmas and Santa Cruz d Tenerife provinces, of the Canary Islands Autonomous Community, currently a part of Spain.

The flag of the nation is adopted from the MPAIAC’s flag, who conducted an armed insurgency in the 1960’s to 70’s in an attempt to gain independence for the islands.

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