Tourist Gentrification and Cultural Minoritization

The aim of this workshop is to explore the relationship between tourist gentrification and cultural minoritization. These two processes increasingly intersect in many towns and cities within the Basque-speaking territory, creating new challenges for the survival of the Basque language and culture.

According to several studies in sociolinguistics, minoritized languages are currently living in what has been described as the “Age of Performativity.” As a result, new forms of language activism are emerging through performative and creative practices. From this perspective, performance is not merely an artistic or cultural expression, but also a tool for articulating concerns, political claims, and power relations surrounding language and culture.

Among these practices, the libertimenduak stand out in particular. Although originally a traditional carnival ritual from Lower Navarre, libertimenduak are currently being reinvented as collective practices in different parts of the Basque Country.

Beyond constituting a vibrant expression of Basque culture, libertimenduak also make visible the connections between the minoritization of Basque and broader social and political concerns. In recent years, one especially prominent issue has been the impact of touristification and gentrification on the linguistic and sociocultural identity of communities. The dibertimendua of Añorga, for example, mobilizes the community’s social capital to confront the social and cultural gentrification affecting San Sebastián.

The workshop will adopt a participatory format and aims to foster dialogue between the university and local communities. We will discuss the libertimenduak of Añorga, Hazparne, and Pamplona/Iruña, and participants involved in these initiatives will share their experiences and perspectives in order to reflect on the importance of these rituals in strengthening the Basque language and culture.

Methodology

The workshop will combine two methodologies:

• On the one hand, through lectures, the connections between tourist gentrification and cultural minoritization will be examined, particularly their impact on the survival and transmission of the Basque language and culture. In addition, reflection will be encouraged on the role played by performative and creative practices within the context of contemporary language activism.
• On the other hand, through roundtable discussions bringing together participants from the libertimenduak of Añorga, Hasparren, and Iruña/Pamplona, the exchange of experiences, collective discussion, and shared reflection will be promoted.