АШПИ 
Данные об авторе. Семина Вера Викторовна, к.п.н., доцент кафедры иностранных языков №2, РЭУ имени Г.В. Плеханова, г. Москва. Круг научных интересов: межкультурная компетенция, проблемы обучения иностранным языкам.
Аннотация. В статье дается определение понятию сепаратизма и рассматриваются его типы. Основное внимание акцентируется на сепаратизме в Каталонии, его исторических корнях и причинах возникновения. В статье представлены статистические сведения прошедших выборов, экзит полов, опросов общественного мнения, которые дают наглядное представление о текущей ситуации в регионе. Кроме того, рассматриваются мнения и аргументы обеих сторон конфликта: сторонников независимости Каталонии и доводы официального Мадрида.
Abstract. The article defines the notion of separatism and lists its types. It focuses on separatism in Catalonia, its historical background and reasons for sovereignty. Statistics of the results of elections and straw votes are provided in the article giving the graphical model of the current situation in the state. The opinions of both parties of the conflict are presented in the article such as arguments of pro-independence separatists and Madrid’s objections to them.
Сепаратизм в Каталонии: история возникновения, борьба за независимость
Separatism in Catalonia: History and Fight for Sovereignty
Introduction
Separatism refers to the advocacy of separation or secession by a group or people from a larger political unit to which it belongs. In modern times, separatism has frequently been identified with a desire for freedom from perceived colonial oppression [2]. Separatist movement (independence movement) can vary in terms of the context they appear and the reasons of its origins. The majority of states is not homogeneous and they comprise several nations united due to some historical events, political and economic reasons. Nation states are the product of territorial conformation defined by power groups at a given time, and that over the years, could not quell, mitigate or integrate real local identities.
There are several types of separatism:
– Religious separatism. It exists when separatist groups plan to withdraw from the state on the basis of their different religious identity and want to interact only with people of the same religion. (Establishment of Israel, separation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh).
– Ethnic separatism – on the basis of cultural and linguistic identity (the USSR dissolution, the separation of Czechoslovakia into Czechia and Slovakia).
– Racist separatism – discrimination against people on the basis of their race (‘black’ separatism in the USA, ‘white’ separatism in the USA and Europe).
– Geographical and socioeconomic separatism – desire to separate a region and gain sovereignty due to geographical and socioeconomic aspects (the Cascadia separatist movement in the USA).
– Gender and sexist separatism – discrimination of groups of people on the basis of gender and sexual orientation (feminism movement, queer separatist movement) [3].
Regional elections
Due to mass media political crises and fight for independence of Catalonia is under way in Spain, though both parties of the conflict are trying to follow the rules.
Pro-independence parties (called Catalonia’s separatist groups) gained the majority of seats in Catalonia’s reginal government in 2015. Such an outcome of elections could throw the whole country into the struggle for independence and sovereignty.
The Catalan president, Artur Mas, has called early regional government elections for autumn 2015. He has turned those elections into a vote on separating of Catalonia from Spain. If he gets a mandate from the Catalan people, he promises to use it to push Madrid’s authorities for a referendum on Catalonia’s independence.
Catalonian elections in 2015 show that the nationalist coalition called Junts pel Si (Together for Yes with Artur Mas i Gavarro, a Catalonian’s leader, as its member) took 62 seats in the regional Parliament and far-left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy party (CUP) gained 10 seats. The results mean that both of them as an alliance would be able to carry a comfortable majority of 72 seats in case of voting (the Parliament has 135 seats) [1].
That led to the approval of the resolution of Catalonia’s getting autonomy from Spain by 72 members of regional Parliament (63 members of Parliament voted against it). Instead of facing the results and making attempts to solve the issue Spanish authorities do not react to such a situation calling Catalonia’s actions illegitimate and announced to appeal this decision to Spain’s Constitutional Court.
The history
The Catalonia’s striving for independence from Spain has a long history. Taking in account the fact of Catalonia becoming the part of Spain only in the 18th century and the Catalan language bearing strong resemblance to French (and almost no resemblance to Spanish) Catalans have made several attempts to gain its autonomy since those times. Civil War of 1936-1939 almost gave them long-awaited results, which then failed after Franco’s hispanicizing the country, banning the local press, the Catalan language, putting separatists and pro-independence activists to prison. (Fransisco Franco was a Spanish general, the President of Spain in 1938-1973 known as a dictator who established a totalitarian state in Spain). In 1979 Catalonia got back its autonomy and the patriotic slogan “Catalonia is not Spain” is widely spread.
Separatism in Catalonia
In 2009-2010 Catalonia polled several straw votes for its independence and over 90% of the pollees were in favour of Catalonia’s gaining sovereignty from Spain.
After winning the regional elections in 2012 pro-independence activists ratified the Declaration of Sovereignty which proclaimed Catalonia as a sovereign political and legal subject of Spain and intended to hold a referendum on the issue of sovereignty in 2014. The Constitutional Court of Spain declared the referendum illegal, and then Catalonia’s government also approved of such a decision blocking the referendum and canvassing public opinion polls instead.
More than one third of the whole Catalonia’s population took part in the straw vote held in November 2014. The results of the poll showed that the majority of Catalans supported Catalonia’s autonomy. The vote contained only two questions: “Would you like Catalonia to become a state?” and “If you answered ‘yes’ to the first question, would you like Catalonia to be an independent state?” About 81 % of voters answered ‘yes’ to both questions, while 5% replied ‘no’ and 10% considered that Catalonia should become a state, but not an independent one.
A 2010 decision by Spain’s Constitutional Court to call away a statute giving Catalonia more powers has added fuel to the fire and caused support for independence to rise.
Today separatists hope to get Catalonia’s sovereignty by 2017.
Separatists are playing a long game, with the support of younger generations which they consider to be the key to the pro-independence movement’s future. There are many halfway solutions that could weaken support for a split – from a simple in-out referendum to new tax-gathering rules, a properly federal Spain or a confederation between Catalonia and the rest of the country [1].
Reasons for sovereignty
What reasons stay behind separatists’ striving for sovereignty?
Firstly, Catalonia is an economically developed region of Spain with a fifth of Spain’s gross domestic product, a fourth of the whole state export and a great attraction for tourists though the population is only 16% of the total population. Separatists gained great popularity pointing at real problems of budget distribution. They claim that Catalans lose about 10% of gross domestic product annually in favour of other less economically developed Spanish regions. Moreover, the population tends to be frustrated at the current political and economic situation in the country and lose trust to national institutions and the European Union as a whole. Besides analysts say that separatism is based on the striving of all nations for sovereignty, especially in states where ethnical and political borders are different. Such differences can lead to a conflict as the minority will always take chances to get out of control of the majority taking into account the fact that the majority makes decisions without considering minority’s interests. It is worth mentioning that in Catalonia national consciousness is very strong. They managed to save cultural identity (e.g. local press in the native language, regional historical museums, national holidays, monuments to prominent residents of Catalonia etc.). Finally, the local language is closer to the language spoken in Province, France rather than to the Spanish one.
Who against
Many Catalans are said to be strongly against the independence of the region and the opportunity to gain autonomy from Spain. Businessmen, bankers and manufacturers greatly oppose to Catalonia’s sovereignty. Besides executives of many pharmaceutical, sewing, food and other industries announce their readiness to eliminate the capital of their companies from the region. Moreover they fear to lose access to Spanish market and the EU market in case of Catalonia gaining sovereignty. Similar announcements were made by representatives of major bank institutions located in Catalonia; among them are Caixa and Sabadell. They reason that the financial crisis awaits Catalonia in the nearest future due to the inavailability to use the services of the Central Bank, its exit of the EU and the outflow of deposits from banks.
There are also pro-Spanish activists in Catalonia itself. They insist that the issue of Catalonia’s independence and the amendments to Constitution could be considered only at a nationwide referendum throughout all Spanish regions.
Reaction of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is certain that the resolution of Catalonia’s sovereignty will have no further consequences. He plans to appeal against it in the Constitutional Court as Spanish Constitution does not allow the division and separation of the state and the exit of any regions (there are no such statutes in the Constitution). Reacting to the agreement, Spain’s conservative government immediately issued a statement emphasizing the importance of forming a new national government with “an ample parliamentary base” in order to “face the separatist challenge”. Spanish government also made an announcement calling all former straw votes held in favour of Catalonia’s sovereignty a farce. Prime minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party is trying to form a coalition in order to stay in power after losing its absolute majority in parliament in legislative elections [4].
More conservative representatives of Spanish society claim Spanish government to use the statute 155 of the Spanish Constitution. The statute lets the government halt the reginal autonomy and introduce the direct governing from Madrid in case of the strong violation of the state laws by local authorities. The Secretary of Defence Pedro Morenes confirmed that the government would be ready to apply the statute 155 against separatists and use any actions in order to save the unity of the state.
Moreover Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hopes to get support of the world community. According to him German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama are said to oppose the breakup of Spain. That means that pro-independence separatists have no international acclaim and support. Both hope the European Union to help settle up the conflict in a peaceful way as in case of sovereignty Catalonia will have to lose the EU membership without the right to get an access to the EU membership again short-term prospects.
References
1. Kassam A. Catalan Separatists Win Election and Claim It as Yes Vote for Breakaway // The Guardian. URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/28/catalan-separatists-win-election-and-claim-it-as-yes-vote-for-breakaway
2. Separatism // The Canadian Encyclopedia. URL: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/separatism/
3. Patil K. Separatism Explained with Examples // The Buzzle. URL: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-does-separatism-mean-with-examples.html
4. Tremlett G. Catalonia’s Separatist Government will Struggle to Break Stalemate with Spain // The Guardian. 11.01.2016. URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/11/catalonias-separatist-government-will-struggle-to-break-stalemate-with-spain