History of Breton nationalism

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The history of Breton nationalism goes back to the power struggles of the French revolution, but became an organised set of political and cultural movements during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

The name Breton movement, or Emsav in Breton ([ẽmzao], meaning uplifting, renovation), is used to group the major Breton political and cultural movements. Some feel the term (or the movements themselves) does not adequately reflect the diversity, internal divisions and conflicts within Brittany.

Traditionally, the history of the Breton movement is split into three periods: the First Emsav being the birth of the Breton movement in the nineteenth century, before 1914; the Second Emsav covering the period 1914-1945; and Third Emsav for the post-war movements. The historic memory of the Second Emsav has been tarnished in the memory of many by the collaboration of some leading Breton nationalists during the Nazi occupation of France. After the war, the movement was widely discredited politically and several of these members arrested as collaborators. The second Emsav essentially disappeared. After the Second Emsav went into limbo, Breton nationalism remained practically silent for two decades.

The Third Emsav was closely associated with the upsurge of social contestation during the 1960s. This last movement was grown on its own without links with the previous nationalist movements and, in sharp contrast with the earlier ideology, occupied the left side of the political spectrum with affinity ranging from social-democrat liberalism to Marxism revolutionary. This can help to explain the reluctance that some members of the movement feel toward the term 'nationalism' which, in France, carries right-wing connotations. The movement has experienced continued momentum through the growth of regional identities across Europe in the 1980s and to the present.

Recently, a new branch of the movement, Adsav ([adzao]), a far right wing organization, has appeared. This movement however, is still very minor and has no connection with the organization from the third Emsav.