The Situation
Catalan is a northern autonomous community of Spain that borders southern France. It is a prosperous region that is home to works of the brilliant modernist architect Antoni Gaudi as well as the world’s most popular soccer team, FC Barcelona.
With its capital in Barcelona, the region holds many different characteristics from the rest of the Spanish nation. Due to the close proximity to France, the area has undergone influences many outside of Spain. In addition, Catalan has significantly different culture from most of Spain, most importantly the Catalan language.
The many differences has caused tension between the Catalan regional government and the Central government in Madrid over the years, decades, and even centuries. Historically, Catalan has not been the most relatable to the rest of Spain. Since the formation of the Kingdom of Spain in the 1400’s, Catalan has always been a politically different part of Spain, often having different agendas from the rest of the country. This has resulted in many revolutions and movements towards independence, of which have often resulted in the punishment of the Catalan people, which in turn leads to more resentment.
This movement was given rise due to a monetary hiccup, and the plunge of the Spanish economy. The global economic crisis in 2008, Spain was hit very hard. Its unemployment peaking in the beginning of 2013 at 26.94% in addition to two, two year recessions. Catalan on the other hand had fared pretty well during the downturn of the economy, but only to be required to take the burden of rebuilding the rest of the nation.
Recently, Catalan has been in the news because of their originally planned referendum for November 9th 2014. The referendum was initially condemned by Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, which barely fazed the rally for independence in light of the Scottish Referendum. But such efforts were only to be shot down by the Supreme Court of Spain with reference to the Spanish Constitution that states the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".
Catalan now is at a standstill, unable to vote on the Referendum, but separatists aren't looking to back down anytime soon. The committed nationalists are looking for ways to break off of Spain and stand as their own country. A new country that could enforce its own policies. But whatever the result, it will greatly affect the European economy. Any shifts in economics for a country as massive as Spain, will no doubt will affect its neighboring countries, especially when one fifth of the nation’s GDP decides break off.
On this site, there are three different perspectives on what should happen.
With its capital in Barcelona, the region holds many different characteristics from the rest of the Spanish nation. Due to the close proximity to France, the area has undergone influences many outside of Spain. In addition, Catalan has significantly different culture from most of Spain, most importantly the Catalan language.
The many differences has caused tension between the Catalan regional government and the Central government in Madrid over the years, decades, and even centuries. Historically, Catalan has not been the most relatable to the rest of Spain. Since the formation of the Kingdom of Spain in the 1400’s, Catalan has always been a politically different part of Spain, often having different agendas from the rest of the country. This has resulted in many revolutions and movements towards independence, of which have often resulted in the punishment of the Catalan people, which in turn leads to more resentment.
This movement was given rise due to a monetary hiccup, and the plunge of the Spanish economy. The global economic crisis in 2008, Spain was hit very hard. Its unemployment peaking in the beginning of 2013 at 26.94% in addition to two, two year recessions. Catalan on the other hand had fared pretty well during the downturn of the economy, but only to be required to take the burden of rebuilding the rest of the nation.
Recently, Catalan has been in the news because of their originally planned referendum for November 9th 2014. The referendum was initially condemned by Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, which barely fazed the rally for independence in light of the Scottish Referendum. But such efforts were only to be shot down by the Supreme Court of Spain with reference to the Spanish Constitution that states the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".
Catalan now is at a standstill, unable to vote on the Referendum, but separatists aren't looking to back down anytime soon. The committed nationalists are looking for ways to break off of Spain and stand as their own country. A new country that could enforce its own policies. But whatever the result, it will greatly affect the European economy. Any shifts in economics for a country as massive as Spain, will no doubt will affect its neighboring countries, especially when one fifth of the nation’s GDP decides break off.
On this site, there are three different perspectives on what should happen.
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