From the vindication of honour to blackmail: the impact of the changing role of ETA on society and politics in the Basque region of Spain.

This article focuses on the role of the terrorist organization ETA in politics in Basque, Spain. In the era of Franco dictatorship, ETA was considered as a vindicator of the honor of Basque people. Thanks to the organization, the resoluteness of opposition by the minority has renewed strength and eloquence, as manifested by strikes that took place in the region. However, in the late 1980, the growing dissociation of large groups of the population from the organization set in. The reasons are the obvious brutality and inhumanity of ETA actions. Many saw that the organization has become dangerous terrorists murdering innocent people, from freedom fighters before. Thus, the Spanish government took measures to control and deprive ETA of its power. Some members were deported or extradited to third countries while others are placed in detention cells.