Nagel / Rixen Catalonia in Spain and Europe

Is There a Way to Independence?
1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-3-8452-5825-6
Verlag: Nomos
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 230 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 227 mm

Secession is a phenomeon and a challenge that some Western European democracies are forced to face. Recently, after a long period of uncertainty the majority of the Scottish population eventually decided in a referendum to stay within the United Kingdom. In Spain, claims of Catalonia to hold a corresponding referendum have so far been rejected. Why, when and how did the Catalanist movement turn towards independence? Is the language issue still paramount, or is it all about money, or about the “right to decide”? And is this different from national self-determination? Is immigration an obstacle? What alternative forms of accommodation could be considered? Is there a lawful way to independence? How is Europe, how is Germany treating the issue? Would an independent Catalonia be viable, and how democratic would it be?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Nagel, Klaus-Jürgen

Rixen, Stephan

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Ideologien Nationalismus
• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Ethnologie Kultur- und Sozialethnologie: Politische Ethnologie, Recht, Organisation, Identität
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Politische Propaganda & Kampagnen, Politik & Medien
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Studien zu einzelnen Ländern und Gebieten
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Transformationsprozesse (Politikwiss.)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Cover;1
2; Introduction;8
3; Trajectories of Catalan nationalism and its present discontents;15
3.1; 1. Initial constellations;15
3.2; 2. Divided actors;17
3.3; 3. Party politics and pacts;20
3.4; 4. From regionalism to ‘autonomism’ to separatism;21
3.5; 5. Threats and models for the 21st century;25
4; A “right to decide”? On the normative basis of a political principle and its application to the Catalan case;29
4.1; 1. Introduction;29
4.2; 2. Right to self-determination: a legal right with a century of history;31
4.3; 3. Right to decide: a political principle for the twenty-first century?;34
4.3.1; 3.1. Theoretical reasons: democracy as a universal principle to be developed;35
4.3.2; 3.2. Legal reasons: The right to decide in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in respect of Kosovo;38
4.4; 4. Conclusion: the right to decide and Catalonia;40
5; The Spanish constitution, the Constitutional Court, and the Catalan referendum;43
5.1; 1. Introduction;43
5.1.1; 1.1 The people of Catalonia;44
5.1.2; 1.2 Different understanding of the state’s territorial nature;45
5.2; 2. Constitutional arguments in favour of a constitutional referendum;47
5.3; 3. Conclusion;51
6; Catalonia’s independence – is there a way in international and European Union law?;53
6.1; 1. Secession movements during the transition from the 20th century to the 21st Century – the beginning of a new age?;53
6.1.1; 1.1 The rise of the desire for independence in Western Europe;55
6.1.2; 1.2 Catalonia’s struggle for independence;57
6.1.2.1; 1.2.1 Catalonia’s statute of autonomy;58
6.1.2.2; 1.2.2 Compatibility of Catalonia’s statute of autonomy with the Spanish constitution;60
6.1.2.3; 1.2.3. The Spanish government’s reluctance to consent to the referendum on the political future of Catalonia;61
6.2; 2. The right to self-determination in international law;63
6.2.1; 2.1 Right of self-determination and Art. 1 of the UN pacts of 1966;66
6.2.2; 2.2 Are the Catalans a subject of the right to self-determination?;67
6.2.3; 2.3 The right to self-determination and the UN Declaration of Friendly Relations of 1970;68
6.2.4; 2.4 Autonomy statutes as a form of self-determination;70
6.2.5; 2.5 Secession in international law;71
6.2.5.1; 2.5.1. State practice and the position of the United Nations on cases of secession;71
6.2.5.2; 2.5.2 Advisory Opinion of the ICJ in the Case of Kosovo as an Encouraging Factor for Catalonia’s Independence?;77
6.2.6; 2.6 Recognising Catalonia as a state against the will of Spain;78
6.3; 3. Catalonia’s independence as a challenge for the European Union;82
6.3.1; 3.1 Catalonia as a constituent of a “Europe of the regions”;82
6.3.2; 3.2 EU’s core values and the right to self-determination of Catalonia (Art. 2 TEU);84
6.3.3; 3.3 Would an independent Catalonia have membership in the EU?;86
6.3.3.1; 3.3.1. The principle of territorial integrity as a legal condition of European integration;86
6.3.3.2; 3.3.2 Accession of Catalonia to the European Union after its secession from Spain;87
6.3.3.3; 3.3.3 Preference for a smooth transition;91
6.4; 4. Conclusion;92
7; Catalonia: a failure of accommodation?;99
7.1; 1. Introduction;99
7.2; 2. The State’s response to self-government claims;99
7.3; 3. Social attitudes towards independence;104
7.4; 4. Conclusions;114
8; Which people? Exploration of the role of immigration in the secessionist process of Catalonia;116
8.1; 1. Introduction;116
8.2; 2. Immigration and secession;117
8.3; 3. Immigration in Catalonia;120
8.4; 4. Stateless nationalist elites and immigration;123
8.4.1; 4.1 Political parties;124
8.4.1.1; Convergència i Unió (CiU):;124
8.4.1.2; Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC):;124
8.4.1.3; Iniciativa per Catalunya-Verds (ICV):;125
8.4.2; 4.2 Civil society;126
8.4.2.1; Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC):;126
8.4.3; 4.3 Government;126
8.4.3.1; Generalitat de Catalunya:;126
8.5; 5. Conclusions;127
9; Language policy and Catalan independence;130
9.1; 1. Autonomy and ‘normalització lingüística’;130
9.2; 2. Conflictual multilingualism;132
9.3; 3. Complex linguistic diversity in the Catalan context;135
10; Fiscal issues of Catalan independence;142
10.1; 1. Introduction;142
10.2; 2. The status quo;142
10.2.1; 2.1 Interregional fiscal flows;143
10.2.2; 2.2 Spending on infrastructure;148
10.2.3; 2.3 Regional financing system;149
10.3; 3. Fiscal agreement;153
10.4; 4. Full independence;154
10.5; 5. Conclusions;156
11; Becoming more independent without independence? Strong federalism with territorial autonomy as an alternative: the case of Belgium;158
11.1; 1. Introduction;158
11.2; 2. Historical backgrounds;158
11.3; 3. Complex constitutional framework;161
11.4; 4. Some Conclusions;165
12; Devolution in the UK – a slippery slope or an alternative to independence?;170
12.1; 1. Introduction;170
12.2; 2. The process of devolution to date;172
12.3; 3. Characteristics of British devolution;175
12.3.1; 3.1 Parliamentary Sovereignty and constitutional conventions;175
12.3.2; 3.2 Asymmetric structure;177
12.3.3; 3.3 Evolutionary potential;179
12.4; 4. Conclusion;180
13; Scottish independence in Europe – a model for others?;183
13.1; A. Introduction;183
13.2; B. Historical and constitutional background;183
13.2.1; I. The Union;183
13.2.2; II. Development towards a referendum;184
13.2.3; III. Constitutional arrangements for the referendum;184
13.3; C. Consequences of a “Yes”-vote;185
13.3.1; I. Statehood;186
13.3.1.1; 3. The case of the UK and Scotland;188
13.3.2; II. Membership of international organisations;189
13.3.2.1; 1. UN membership;191
13.3.2.2; 2. ECHR/Council of Europe membership;191
13.3.2.3; 3. EU membership;192
13.4; D. Scottish independence in Europe – model for others?;197
14; The consequences of an independent Catalonia for the German foreign policy;198
14.1; 1. Introduction;198
14.2; 2. Characteristics and interests of German EU policy;199
14.3; 3. What are the relations between the German government and Spain?;201
14.3.1; 3.1 Economic relations;201
14.3.2; 3.2 Political relations;203
14.4; 4. What is the German government’s position in the current situation in Spain?;204
14.5; 5. Hypothetical scenarios;205
14.6; 6. Conclusions;208
15; Independent Catalonia – a viable new European state?;210
15.1; 1. Small states and liberal democracy;210
15.2; 2. Secession theories;211
15.3; 3. Independent Catalonia: an evil state?;214
15.4; 4. Independent Catalonia: a failed state? A loss in the quality of democracy?;216
15.5; 5. An economically viable state?;217
15.6; 6. By way of a short conclusion;224
16; Some conclusions and final reflections;225
17; Authors;230