The Basque in Spain have a unique, distinct culture from the rest of Spain. This is as a result of a different, ancestral language, Euskara. In our project on Quebec, the conflict is also caused by differing primary languages in the region. The native speakers of Euskara are concentrated in their contiguous area, similarly to Quebec. Also in common, the Basque have not had an independent state, but varying levels of autonomy under Spanish and French rule. Quebec also does not have an independent state, but differs in that it has always been recognized by Canada as a province. Also, both the Basque and Quebecois have an extremist separatist movement or organization, such as the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or the Front de Liberation du Quebec. Both groups lost power yet arose again after some form of violence, such as the murder of a politician in Basque or the gunman incident during Marois' speech in Quebec. One major difference is that an embodiment of the Basque conflict was their Civil War, but in Quebec, it was the French and Indian, international war. All in all, the major similarity between the Basque and Quebec is the desire for more autonomy or independence due to different languages being spoken primarily in their respective regions. 

         In Armenia, the people wanted to defend themselves from other nations and to preserve their culture. This ties in with the Quebecois, whose culture is derived from their French origin and their primary spoken language. The area of Armenia was reduced by sequential conquerors, however. This differs from how Quebec simply had changes in their area or borders according to various treaties, such as the 1774 Quebec Act. The Armenians were later persecuted by a Christian majority. The idea of the majority and minority are repeated in Quebec (English and French), but there was no persecution. Another difference would be the consequences of the conflict. In Quebec, there were simply rebellions and some deaths occurred. However, in Armenia, the genocide that killed 1 million Armenians was devastating. Armenia eventually becomes independent, which is also, what the Parti Quebecois seeks.  

         The information about the Basque in Spain and the Armenians has helped me learn that differences in culture can cause conflict. Because of the desire to preserve their own culture, they use their cultural identity along with ethnicity, race, language, etc. to differentiate their two groups. Political borders and boundaries may represent the division between nations. These nations are defined by identity as explained above. Therefore, borders are simply physical representations of the differences in culture. In the case of the Basque and also Quebec, language has created a rift. For the Armenians, it was simply their overall culture and sense of national identity.

         The information has also helped me learn about current issues around the world in terms of cause. As a child, I would assume that rebellion and the desire for separatism was caused by a desire for a new leader. I did not know about different types of government. Now I know that not even government is the cause. Politics is the decision making for your own people, and some nations are dissatisfied with their representation. Yet others want to preserve their culture, language, or religion. Whatever they want to protect, it can only be preserved through their own government and decision making. This is what leads to rebellion. In other words, I now understand the true reason for nations to demand their own state.