Basque-Bump Relations

Bump Island is known to have a “parasocial”, relationship of political solidarity with armed leftist Basque nationalist and separatist organization ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna). Members of ETA Txabi Batasuna and Begoña Exteverry have characterized the struggle of ETA as “parallel” to the struggle of Bump Islanders.

Because there is a general affinity for Bump Islanders among the Basque, many Basque have a certain level of interest and familiarity with Bump Island culture. Many establishments in Basque Country have celebrations or promotions on Bump Island Independence Day. The video game Wildflower OHS, which takes place on Bump Island, was translated into Basque after a sucessful campaign expressing popular support for the project.

Parasocial Solidarity
Sociocultural anthropologist Justin Sagalow coined the term “parasocial solidarity” to describe the relationship between Basque nationalism and Bump Island sovereignty. Sagalow argues that while a Basque political framework would regard Bump Island’s disputed sovereignty to be a congruent political struggle to their own, what constitutes Politics is a contingent category. According to Sagalow, Bump Islanders do not characterize their own cause as political, and the expressions of political allyship from Basque Country are interpreted as “confusing but not unwelcome” expressions of friendship from “people with a lot of Xs in their names.”

Solidarity Mural
A large mural in downtown Pamplona expresses solidarity for Bump Island sovereignty. It features eight bumper cars heading towards collision in the center of the Basque flag, each following the intersecting green and white lines.