Kernow Rydh, the youth branch of Mebyon Kernow, travelled to Palma de Mallorca earlier this month to participate in Llavor Internacionalista, an international conference hosted by Jovent Republica (Young Republicans), the youth organisation of Esquerra Republicana (Republican Left). The event brought together youth movements, independence organisations, and grassroots groups from across Europe and the wider world to exchange experiences and strategies on feminism, socialism, antifascism, and self-determination.

The three-day gathering combined structured political discussions with cultural activities aimed at strengthening international networks. For Kernow Rydh, it was an opportunity to place Cornwall’s national struggle within a broader international context and to build connections with movements facing similar structural challenges.

Two Views on Europe

One of the conference’s central themes was self-determination in Europe. Delegates from Brittany, Sardinia, North Macedonia and Cornwall spoke about their nations’ legal and political status, and the different strategies they are pursuing to secure autonomy or recognition.

The Cornish delegation highlighted Cornwall’s status as a recognised national minority under the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and the particular difficulties posed by the UK’s lack of formal devolution to Cornwall. Cornwall’s position outside the EU was a key point of discussion. While many of the other movements benefit from EU cultural and linguistic support frameworks, Cornwall lost its structural funding post-Brexit and has seen no adequate replacement.

However, the debate revealed two sharply different perspectives among delegates within the EU. Some emphasised the value of EU mechanisms for protecting minority rights and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. Others were more sceptical, arguing that the EU remains fundamentally structured around nation-states rather than nations, and that the bloc can often act as a restraining force, limiting the political ambitions of Stateless Nations by forcing them to work within frameworks designed for Nation-States. For movements seeking genuine self determination rather than limited cultural recognition, the EU can feel less like a guarantor of rights and more like another barrier to sovereignty.

Lessons from outside of Europe

The conference brought together movements operating under vastly different political circumstances. One of the most powerful contributions came from Rohani International, who spoke about the Kurdish struggle and the role of women in the context of war and occupation. Their presentation examined how Kurdish women have played a central role not only in resisting state violence but also in building alternative social and political structures.

The international nature of the gathering extended well beyond Europe. Delegates from Colombia and Ecuador delivered a striking and urgent account of their countries’ current political crises. They described how both states have, in practice, become deeply entangled with narcotics cartels, creating what many observers call “narco-governments”. This dynamic, they argued, has eroded democratic institutions, fuelled corruption, and contributed to escalating violence across communities.

A key theme of their presentation was the role of the United States in Latin America. The delegates explained how the label of “narco-states” is often used by Washington not as a basis for supporting democratic movements, but as a pretext for political and economic interference, citing Venezuela as one example. The situation they described was less one of simple state failure than of geopolitical struggle, with ordinary people paying the price. But amongst those ordinary people a real sense of hope lingers for a brighter, less violent, and more democratic future.

Feminism and Reproductive Rights

Another major strand of the conference focused on feminism and reproductive justice, in the form of a panel hosted by Jovent Republica and Young Scots for Independence that explored access to reproductive healthcare in the Catalan Countries and Scotland.

The discussion highlighted significant inequalities within the Catalan Countries themselves. While Barcelona has a concentration of clinics and services, rural areas face serious obstacles due to chronic underfunding and a lack of medical provision. Delegates explained that the presence of morally conservative doctors acting as “conscientious objectors” further compounds the problem, creating a situation where reproductive rights exist on paper but are not accessible in practice.

Scotland, while facing its own barriers, has seen greater progress at a legislative level, showing how national autonomy can directly affect healthcare access. For Cornwall, where both devolved powers and adequate healthcare provision are lacking, the discussion underscored how questions of national sovereignty and feminist struggle are closely intertwined.

Language and Cultural Rights

Language rights were another major topic across several sessions. A panel featuring Welsh, Irish, Breton and Catalan representatives explored different strategies to protect and revitalise minoritised languages. From Welsh-medium education to Breton grassroots campaigns, the experiences shared illustrated how language revival depends on both community mobilisation and political will.

For Cornwall, where Cornish is recognised but under-supported, these discussions offered clear lessons. Without strong political backing, language policy risks being symbolic rather than transformative.

Regional Autonomy and the Spanish State

One of the most political discussions of the weekend examined the situation of Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia within the Spanish state. Delegates outlined how Spanish institutions systematically centralise power in Madrid, undermining regional autonomy through fiscal control, legal restrictions and political pressure.

Basque representatives noted that their relative fiscal autonomy has allowed some space for self-government, though always under the constant threat of central interference. Catalan delegates described how Madrid has repeatedly moved to suppress democratic expressions of independence, most notably following the 2017 referendum. Galician speakers pointed to a quieter but persistent erosion of language rights and political space.

The tone of the panel was clear: the Spanish state, in their view, does not represent a legitimate framework for regional autonomy but an active barrier to genuine self-determination.

And on Saturday evening, delegates were taken into the mountains outside Palma for a cultural festival that blended traditional Catalan music and dance with contemporary Catalan house. Far from being a mere entertainment break, it was an expression of defiant cultural pride. Catalonia’s culture has survived centuries of repression, from Francoist bans on language and assembly to modern-day political crackdowns. The celebration underscored the power of cultural expression as resistance.

Internationalism and the Road Ahead

Throughout the weekend, a clear pattern emerged: though the specific circumstances of each nation differ, the underlying struggles are strikingly similar. Movements from across Europe and Latin America described the same structural pressures, the marginalisation of minority languages, the economic neglect of peripheral regions, and the political exclusion of communities that do not fit neatly within dominant national frameworks.

For Cornwall, the experience in Palma reinforced the idea that internationalism and progressive nationalism must go hand in hand. A movement for national liberation that looks inward alone risks isolation and stagnation. One that builds international solidarity gains strength, shared experience, and the ability to act strategically on a broader stage.

The challenges ahead for Cornwall are substantial, but they are not unique. Many nations face the same barriers, cultural erasure, economic exploitation, and political marginalisation. By working together, sharing strategies and supporting one another in international forums, these movements can amplify their voices and increase their collective influence.

As far-right movements across Europe and beyond seek to roll back minority protections and entrench centralised power, this kind of cross-border cooperation will only grow more important. For Cornwall, that means continuing to build meaningful international relationships, engaging with European and global institutions, and asserting the right to self-determination as part of a wider, interconnected movement.

Image Via: Jovent Republica