The representation of imprisoned Basque politicians in the Spanish press (2011-2016)

Abstract

This study analyzes the coverage of the two main Spanish newspapers about the Basque conflict after its armed phase, focusing on the construction of mental models when dealing with the question about the prisoners of political conflict. It explores the arguments that legitimize the imprisonment after the armed organization ETA announced the end of its attacks on October 2011. This study found that the media display an ideological square, polarizing the interests of prisoners and the Basque independentist left on one side (the outgroup), and the interests of the Spanish state and the Spanish society on the other (the ingroup), intensified by the negative presentation of the other and positive self-presentation. Prisoners are usually presented as victimizers and guilty; therefore, imprisonment is understood as revenge and not as prevention. The conflict itself is perceived as a confrontational situation where ETA is the aim to reduce; and peace, as a scenario which inevitably means the victory (military and discursive) of the ingroup over the outgroup. Finally, the observations of the analysis are compared with the principles of Peace Journalism, concluding that the Spanish media do not promote mental models that promote empathy and reconciliation between the different actors involved in the conflict.