Case Study → Catalonia in the EU (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Case Study → Catalonia in the EU

Context

● Catalonia is an autonomous region of Spain ○ Many speak Catalan and the region has its own traditions and foods ● Autonomy has existed in the 1930s, but Catalonia and Barcelona sided with the losing Republicans during the Spanish civil war: The victorious Nationalists ended the dreams of Catalan independence ● In 1979, the new democratic gov of Spain recognised Catalonians as a separate nationality within the Spanish state but only granted autonomy, not independence

Demanding Independence

● Demands for independence grew • a huge pro-independence demonstration occurred between 2013 and 2014 ● In a 2017 referendum, Catalonia in NE Spain voted to become independent, but spain declared the referendum illegal (90% of the votes were to leave Spain w/ a 43% total turnout) ○ The gov in Madrid stood firm (no EU state recognised the result as valid), and independence was not achieved ○ Some leaders of the Catalan separatist movement were put on trial, and others fled the country ■ Today, support for independence runs at 40-50% so the issue is by no means settled

•                                                          Catalonia referendum*