Approach To Catalonia

Analyses with rare impartiality what sets the Catalans apart from Spain, and how the separatist debate is playing out.

This book explores the conflict between the Catalan project to become independent and the Spanish state’s opposition to any attempt of secessionism. The volume addresses some of the key political and academic issues of contemporary European societies: nationalism, separatism and sovereignty. The banned referendum in Catalonia in October 2017 unveiled the existence of multiple crises, from territorial to economic and political. Indeed, the Catalan issue is about the crisis of sovereignty: who holds legitimacy to make decisions, and who is in power legally and politically? The book is structured according to three themes: sovereignty and its people, where the realignment to independence, populism and the definition of the demos are discussed; collective identities and actions, to account for the shaping of ‘us’, the importance of collective memory and the cross-alliances forged during the referendum; and internationalization, focusing on Europeanisation, international media and comparative constitutional perspectives.

A view from abroad to the internationalization of the Catalan crisis. Exiled President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Germany in March 2018 on his way back from Finland. That marked a turning point in the internationalization of the Catalan crisis. German court refused his extradition to Spain arguing he had not committed rebellion. Meanwhile part of the legitimate Government of Catalonia as well as civil society leaders have been in an unjust pre-trial detention for over 1,5 years. Trial against Catalan political prisoners is coming to an end in the summer of 2019. Sentences are expected to be harsh further escalating the political conflict between Spain and Catalonia. Janne Riitakorpi, co-organizer of President Puigdemont’s visit to Finland, analyses in his book the recent years of the Catalan independence movement from an international perspective. Book contains background to Europe's strongest secessionist movement, detailed analysis of international reactions witnessed during the tense autumn of 2017 as well as author’s personal experiences from the heart of the Catalan struggle. Riitakorpi lived in Barcelona in 2017 and worked for the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia during the 1 October referendum and 27 October declaration of independence. He is also Secretary of the Foreign Friends of Catalonia as well as the Executive Director of the Finland-Catalonia Friendship Association. Foreword by the 130th President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont.

Aquest llibre vol ajudar al lector a entendre i interpretar els esdeveniments polítics de la història recent de Catalunya. El llibre també mostra que el procés té una pertinència política que va més enllà del context espanyol català i es refereix a punts clau pel que fa a la interacció de democràcia, sobirania i estatisme al segle XXI.

This volume offers an overview of the ongoing debate regarding nationalism, globalisation, secessionism and languages in 21st century Catalonia. At the heart of the book is a set of interlocking questions relating to socio-political issues in sub-state nations seeking independence in the 21st century.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the Catalonian crisis in Spain from a historical, political and legal perspective. Using the precedents of Québec, Scotland, and partially Veneto and Bavaria, the author highlights some of the key issues of contemporary secessionist nationalism, including its relationship with sovereignty, the right to have a referendum, and the capacity of a particular territory to amend the constitution in order to admit secession.