Catalan politics
Why Catalonia, as a political entity, is a nation?
• DK is a “nation-state”? Or Jutland? (+ Feroe Islands or Greenland?). YES / NO....WHY?
– Language + institutions +...?
• Spain is a multinational state (“a nation of nations”+regions) = conflictive idea ►different nationalisms.
• The case of Catalonia:
1. Language – Culture – history = identity
1. Political institutions (self-government)
2. Political will = political culture + parties
Nation-building process
Political will (I): Political culture - the national axis
Source: Center for Opinion Studies
http://www.gencat.cat/economia/doc/doc_42470418_1.pdf
A consistent idea…
Evolution of the national identity in Catalonia 1984-2003
1984 1988 1992 1995 1999 2003
Only S 11 12 20 14 9 10
S>C 11 10 8 7 7 6
S=C 45 35 35 41 45 43
S<C 22 28 20 23 23 25
Only C 8 14 15 13 14 14DknowDanswer
3 1 2 2 2 2
A consistent idea, only in Catalonia? The effects of decentralization…
Source: Center for sociological research
Cuadro
Auto ubicación del electorado en el eje de identificación nacional.
Más español que de la ccaa
Tan español como de la ccaa
Más de la ccaa que español
Ns-Nc
País Vasco 11,5% 33,2% 45,8% 9,6%
Cataluña 15,9% 44,8% 37,7% 1,6%
Navarra 7,3% 42,6% 36,8% 13,4%
Canarias 4,4% 56,9% 36,5% 2,2%
Galicia 13,4% 60,6% 24,7% 1,3%
Baleares 17,4% 52,0% 23,8% 6,7%
Andalucía 12,6% 68,6% 16,0% 2,8%
Asturias 9,4% 68,8% 15,8% 6,1%
Aragón 12,6% 71,4% 13,2% 2,8%
La Rioja 14,5% 69,4% 11,2% 5,0%
Extremadura 7,4% 81,1% 10,3% 1,2%
Cantabria 16,8% 68,1% 9,6% 5,5%
Valencia 32,9% 55,9% 9,3% 1,9%
Murcia 27,2% 65,0% 4,9% 2,8%
Madrid 33,4% 51,9% 4,0% 10,7%
Castilla La Mancha
30,6% 63,6% 3,3% 2,6%
Castilla León 37,8% 54,8% 2,5% 4,9%
Why are nations?
Political will (II): Party system
Autonomous
Federated
with PSOE
Integrated
Parliamentary
Group
PSOE
Catalonia (and the Basque country) have its own party system)
Political institutions (II): Generalitat de Catalunya
Pres. José Montilla
7,6 M.
According to health system
Political institutions (III): a “decentralised” welfare state
Basic questions…1. Catalonia is a spanish autonomous community (17).2. It is a nationality (a nation without state), with a
high level of self-government.3. Catalan politics influence Spanish politics. The
role of nationalist parties in the Spanish Parliament = these parties are often needed for PSOE or PP to conform majorities.
• Their electorates don’t like these agreements = they consider that the spanish parliament is “hijacked” by periferical nationalisms.
• We are always in “negotiations” = catalans are selfish (our political mainstream = self-government EAC 2006) VS spanish political mainstream which is more centralist…
• A logic based on political power = more or less (de)centralisation = that’s politics of the State + 17 CCAA.
Conflicts and debates under discussion
1. The “level of political autonomy” or decentralisation = Statute of Autonomy
2. The “development” of autonomy =The financing system
• Immigration as the main question (more 1 milion people= 13/14% population with special needs in school, etc)
• Generalitat = expensive services when people grow, but fiscal resources remain constant = demography Vs economy
• Is that “nationalism”? No, but it is used by nationalist parties...
3. Looking for a multicultural state? • Don’t touch me...and I don’t touch you (useful).• Citizens have the right to choose school language = one
school in catalan / another in spanish? / viceversa = SEPARATISTS FROM SPAIN VS SEPARATISM IN CATALONIA
• The State has to promote more actively the minority languages? ►POLITICS OF RECOGNITION = more recognition from the State / less nationalism: WHY NOT?
Catalonia, Spain...Why Europe?
1. For us Europe = democracy and modernity
2. Stronger feeling than other countries (also in Spain), but...
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