Fernando Arrascue Quiroz

ESL 015

03/30/2016

Catalonia’s secession from Spain

The autonomous community of Catalonia situated in Spain has been trying to achieve independence for decades. Catalonia is a particular region that possesses their own culture, traditions and even language. It has been very clear that Catalonia wants independence from Spain as Catalonia have used propaganda to transmit their desire. Spain’s financial system jeopardizes Catalonia’s economy as because of the system, Catalonia has to pay higher taxes than any other region in Spain. Also, because Spain has control over Catalonia, traditions and culture in Catalonia are constantly influenced by the Spaniards. Catalonia’s culture, traditions and economic welfare are being jeopardized because of Spain’s control over them.

Most of the desire to become independent originated from Franco’s dictatorship. The New York Times described that, “During the four-decade dictatorship of Franco, regional languages and cultural celebrations were banned” (2004). The events that took place during Franco’s regime created a sense of pride among the Catalan population. Also, the actions of oppression towards the Catalan region are constantly remembered and used to get people to support the independence movement. According to the Independent, a poll made in 2014 demonstrated that at least 60% of Catalans are open supporters of the Independence of Catalonia.

Catalonia has been very clear and open when expressing its desire to separate from Spain. Acts from “cants” at the local soccer stadiums to advertisements in the Olympic Games. Also the governor of the region has openly expressed his desire to separate; this have dragged the attention of many, to the situation. Probably the most shocking propaganda by the Catalan people took place at the Olympic Games, where they received the visitors with phrases like, "Catalonia: A Country in Europe" (1994) and “Barcelona in Catalonia, a country in Spain” (1994). These advertisements shocked everyone but the Spanish government did not take action about it. Also, it has become very popular to yell “el cant independentista” (Independent cant), at the minute 17 on every home game of the F.C. Barcelona. All of these kind of actions contributed to get Catalonia on the road to independence to the point that the Catalan government started to take action.

Pursuing this further, the Catalan government represented by Mr. Mas in 2012, have developed an eighteen month plan to achieve independence by 2017. The Catalan government describes that the first step in the eighteen month plan is that “within 30 days in fact - is passage of new laws to create a Catalan tax authority, also a local Catalan Social Security system”(2014). This first step would provide the Catalan government with money instead of the Spanish government. The vital part of the first step to acquire a balance economic status is to get the multinational companies situated in Catalonia to stop paying takes to the Spanish government and start to paying them to the Catalan government. This particular step is indeed very complicated as technically this multinational companies could be sued for tax evasion in Spain. The completion to do so by the companies justifies the desire for independence as well for the support for it.

There are many reasons of why Catalonia wants to separate from Spain. Spain has recently been in a bank crisis and recession which affected Catalonia and now they have a system that makes Catalonia pay greater taxes than any other region in Spain. The desire for independence is not an idea that emerged from one day to another. The desire for independence comes all the way back to Franco’s regime. The main reason stipulated by Catalonia to separate from Spain is to stop paying them money and to stop being involved in the Spanish economic crisis. The problem with the secession of Catalonia is that it would create a temporal recession in both Catalonia and Spain, and later the European Union. Also, it is important to remark that according to the pro-independence officials, the independence of Catalonia has nothing to do with ethno-nationalism, even though Catalans do take pride in their own culture. The Catalan population are very proud of their language, culture, traditions, but most importantly, they are very proud of being Catalan and do not feel identified with Spain.

Many solutions have been proposed to solve the problem between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. The fact is that there is no perfect solution but, some solutions are better than others. The principal dilemma of the situation is the desire of Catalonia to separate and Spain’s desire to maintain Catalonia under their control.

The most straight-forward solution is to take no action. In this case Spain would still get Catalonia’s high taxes, which is the greatest benefit for Spain. Catalonia is one of the most economically developed autonomous communities of Spain. Thus, it is completely understandable that Catalonia will contribute more than others autonomous communities. What is not fair is that “Catalonia represent around 16% of the country’s population, produces 20% of the income, pay 24% of taxes and receives 10% of public spending” (2013). The disproportion is evident. Catalonia would create a significant deficit gap, where the rest of Spain would be beneficial of. Also, taking no action means that Catalonia will still be under political control of Spain. Being under political control of Spain, means that Catalonia will not have the freedom to implement their democratic ideas and therefore their culture. Taking no action is in other words, taking advantage of Catalonia politically and financially, and also damaging Catalonia’s identity and integrity.

Another valid solution is to enhance Spain’s treatment of Catalonia by changing laws that will put Catalonia in a better position with respect to the other autonomous communities. The purpose of the solution is to get Catalonia to stay and be part of Spain, to maintain the Spanish diverse culture and also a stable economy. The contradiction with this solution is that it has already happened after Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (2013). Catalonia’s situation after Franco’s dictatorship did get better after the terrible oppression of the Catalan culture and language suffered, but it wasn’t enough. Although Catalonia’s situation did get better, they had problems maintaining their culture as many laws prevented the development of their democratic ideas (2013). By history, this solution is not acceptable from the Catalan perspective. The Catalan government fears that the changes will be minimal and that as the time passes Catalonia will end up in the same position as in the beginning.

The most requested solution by the Catalan citizens of Spain and the best solution is the independence of Catalonia. According to the BBC news, “An informal vote on independence for Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favor”(2014). The fact that the majority of Catalans want the separation of Catalonia from Spain is sufficient reason for independence. Catalonia is recognized for their auto-sufficient government with their democratic ideas (1994). Most of the Catalan democratic ideas have not been respected by the Spanish government for a long time (1994). The independence would mean that the democratic ideas proposed by the Catalan government would be now respected. But probably the most important factor that that makes the independence so appealing for the Catalans is the ending for the unfair economic treat by the Spanish government. Catalonia represents around 16% of the country’s population, produces 20% of the income, pay 24% of taxes and receives 10% of public spending (2013). The high taxes imposed by the Spanish government would stop being a problem is Catalonia accomplish independence.

To sum it all up, Catalonia has been under the control of Spain ever since the Spanish constitution of 1978. The truth is that the worst treatment of Spain to the autonomous community of Catalonia took place during the Franco’s dictatorship (1994). After Franco’s dictatorship the treat of Spain to Catalonia have gotten better in terms of cultural freedom and economic treatment. But, Catalonia still lives under a most mild level of oppression. This is why a better treatment for Catalonia would just put Catalonia in the same position they ended up after Franco’s dictatorship. The no action solution would just remain Catalonia jeopardized by the Spanish government. Therefore, it is the best solution for Catalonia to achieve independence. The independence of Catalonia is the most wanted solution by Catalans, it would give respect to the Catalan democratic ideas and it would end the unfair economic treat by the Spanish government. The independence of Catalonia is the best solution.

References:

  1. Doce razones para la independencia de Cataluña. (2013, October 23). Retrieved from
  2. Gies, D. T. (1994). A country in Spain. The Wilson Quarterly, 18(1), 70+. Retrieved from
  3. Wertheimer, (2015). Catalonia's Government Votes For Independence From Spain. (2015, November 9). Morning Edition. National Public Radio.
  4. Catalonia vote: 80% back independence – officials. (2014, November 10). Retrieved from
  5. Tharoor, I. (2015, September 29). What's next for Catalonia, the Spanish region that wants to be Europe's next nation. Washington Post.
  6. Poll finds that 60% of Catalans want independence. (2014, March 21). Retrieved from