Since its creation in 1918, Eusko Ikaskuntza has held a total of 18 conferences with two main objectives: on the one hand, to promote research and culture and, on the other, to carry out a survey of the challenges and needs of Euskal. Herria.
The XIX Congress of Basque Studies will be held on October 2, 3 and 4, 2024. An unavoidable quote from Eusko Ikaskuntza. The last congress of Basque Studies (XVIII), held in 2018, coincided with the Centennial celebrations of the institution and brought together senior officials and key agents from the three administrative territories, who witnessed the proposals made by Eusko Ikaskuntza.
Currently, Eusko Ikaskuntza carries out mediation work with institutions-entities-society, and makes its contribution in a medium-long term journey. The main studies and results obtained since that last Centennial Congress will take place at the XIX Congress. Therefore, it will be a fundamental event for the society of Euskal Herria, for the agents who operate there and, above all, for the members of Eusko Ikaskuntza, the soul of the institution.
XIX Congress, Elkartzen Gaituena
The Congress aims to make proposals that allow a Country Pact that improves the social and territorial cohesion of Euskal Herria. Seek broad consensus around the policies and/or decisions that must be implemented to improve the well-being of all people, reduce inequalities and increase social cohesion.
Why now? The social contract that emerged after World War II no longer serves us. Living conditions have changed, we have challenges and a new agenda in mind and we are in a position to make an economic, social and environmental contribution that guarantees a sustainable future. The aim is to activate our collective capacity as a country and seek the commitment to strengthen structures and relationships that allow decent living conditions, within a paradigm of democracy.
One Social Contract or several? We will work on the conditions that must be met for a Social Contract around three main axes, since they are ultimately interconnected, on which we will collect approaches and proposals (Territory, Society and Socioeconomic Model-Wellbeing) but within the framework of a Country Contract with the same objective: social and territorial cohesion . Proposals will be prepared to collect and respond jointly to the concerns and needs shared at the level of Euskal Herria with the objective of cohesion.
Eusko Ikaskuntza wants to contribute to the XIX Congress, based on reflections and research carried out in its lines of research, to the search for solutions and the formulation of appropriate proposals to face the changes and challenges that lie ahead. For this reason, it has structured the research and reflection into the following three axes:
NEW ECONOMIC PARTNER MODEL AND WELFARE SOCIETY
We will reflect on the need to redefine the socio-economic model and move towards a new economy based on environmental sustainability. Rethink production and distribution models, as well as the idea of progress, proposing new indicators and metrics that take into account respect for human rights and the planet. A reflection on the challenges of the labor market, the effects of digitalization, jobs of the future, improving productivity and the creation of quality jobs. In short, reflect on what the socioeconomic development model that generates social, environmental and cultural value should be and on the responsibility that it brings.
When reflecting on the cohesion of the people who make up Euskal Herria, it is essential to talk about migrants, diversity, interculturality and/or coexistence, citizenship, rights and duties of each and every member of the community, talk about commitment and reciprocity, as well as the educational system and cultural management and participation in culture. The emphasis will also be placed on giving a voice to those who do not yet have a voice, showing the strength of small alliances and joint constructions and the capacity of small learning communities to scale and create models.
When reflecting on the cohesion of the territories that make up Euskal Herria, it is essential to talk about the need for dialogue between all of them and promote new relationships that allow us to know each other better, and based on shared stories, generate a minimum of consensus that allow us to jointly face the challenges of the future. It is essential to deepen the relationships between the urban and rural world to achieve cohesion and balance between the different realities of the territory. And speaking of territory, offer a proposal of bases for the resolution of territorial conflicts of sovereignty within the states that allow delving into substantive debates.