Las estrategias de desarrollo económico del País Vasco: una perspectiva histórica

This article aims at offering a first tentative approach to the strategies for economic development in the Basque country from early modern times to the beginnings of the 21st century, following the analytical framework suggested by Aranguren et al. (2012). The first section briefly discusses the sources of regional competitiveness and the main elements that integrate a territorial strategy; and addresses the challenges and dangers of this approach to the study of the past. Then, it goes on analysing the territorial strategies observed in the Basque country before 1980, over three successive stages: from the early modern times to the first Industrial revolution, from then to the eve of the Spanish civil war in 1936, and the Franco dictatorship. The third section examines the territorial strategies implemented in the Basque country between 1980 and 2012, a period characterised by the creation of a regional government with a high level of powers and competences. Finally, some preliminary conclusions are offered