An American's Experience with Catalan Independence

by Francesca Robinson, MAEUS student

This blog post was written in response to "Is the European Union driving increasing demands for secession in Scotland and Catalonia?" a guest lecture given at the EUC by Dr. Gemma Sala (Grinnell College, Political Science).

Photo credit: Francesca Robinson

In the fall of 2017 I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain.  After recently attending a talk given by Professor Gemma Sala of Grinnell College on the mobilization of secessionist movements in Europe, I reflected on my own experiences in Catalonia.  During this time the Catalan independence movement escalated and there were protests all over the city.  There were several days when my classes were cancelled because of protests blocking the university.  I was fascinated by these demonstrations and wanted to understand why they were happening.

Photo Credit: Philipp Reichmuth,
via Wikimedia Commons. 
License available here.

In Barcelona, I took classes only in Spanish, learned some Catalan, and lived with a host mother who made traditional Spanish food.  I felt connected to this new culture and was empathetic towards those who wanted independence.  The police brutality that Catalans endured and the arrests of members of the Catalan government made me very angry.  But I also have wondered if it was right to feel this way.  Is it fair or just for Catalonia to have independence?  I still do not know the answer.  However, I do know that it is wrong that the Madrid government has refused to negotiate with
Catalonia and has condoned the usage of violence against Catalan citizens.  If Madrid does not want Catalonia to push for separation, then the Madrid officials need to hear what Catalonia has to say.

Millions of Catalonians participated in the 2017 independence referendum.  The Madrid government even sent in additional law enforcement to accompany Catalan police forces.  These officers raided voting centers and used weapons like batons and rubber bullets against Catalonian demonstrators.  I was in disbelief as I watched the local news and saw the unnecessary brutality.  After this day, I could see why Catalan citizens would want to separate from a hurtful government.  Nonetheless, not everyone in Catalonia wants independence.  Although many people told me that they did wish for independence, other said they simply wanted to exercise their right to vote in a referendum that could affect the future of their region.

Photo credit: Liz Castro, via Flickr.
License available here.

While I understand the pro-independence argument and the pride that Catalans have in their culture, I can also understand the opposition to independence.  As Catalonia is one of the wealthiest Spanish regions, it has always expressed a high degree of cultural autonomy.  From an outside perspective, there seems to be a bigger question of why Catalonians would want to leave.  The region would not have the support of the EU and would suffer economically and politically.  However, there is a reason that millions of people participated in a referendum that was deemed illegal.  People want a chance to exercise their democracy and feel as if their voices are heard in the Spanish government.  Although the referendum that took place in October 2017 was not legally democratic, maybe a Catalan referendum of some sort is the right idea.  If the Spanish government does not come to some sort of understanding with Catalonia soon, the violence will only persist, and Catalonia will continue to diverge from the rest of Spain.