Complex Territorial Identities? Beyond Identification with the Nation and the Region: the Case of Navarre and Valencia

Multilevel states are typically composed of regions whose inhabitants identify, to varying degrees, with both national (state) and regional identities. Scholars have examined the potential territorial configurations that emerge from differing levels of allegiance to these identities: predominately national, equally national and regional (dual), or predominantly regional. In certain instances, regional identity may function as a national identity in opposition to the overarching state identity, as observed in regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country. However, the academic community has largely overlooked cases in which territorial identity is constructed not only in relation to the affinity of inhabitants with their own nation or region but also concerning the degree of closeness or remoteness they perceive towards neighboring territories that share cultural and linguistic traits. This is exemplified by the regions of Navarre and Valencia, where shared characteristics with a third region (the Basque Country and Catalonia, respectively) have significantly influenced the configuration of territorial identity among their inhabitants. This paper aims to explore this phenomenon in greater depth. Through an analysis of recent public opinion data, this study examines in depth the configuration of territorial identity in Navarre and Valencia. It posits that shared characteristics between a region and its neighboring territory can be integrated into the territorial identity of the region's inhabitants in both positive and negative ways. The analysis seeks to provide a deeper understanding of complex territorial identities that involve a third element beyond the nation and the region. It therefore establishes a precedent for analyzing the identity of inhabitants in regions with significant historical and strong cultural ties to neighboring territories.