The Struggle for Catalonia: Rebel Politics in SpainEvery year on 11 September, Catalonia celebrates its Diada, its National Day. But the Diada of 2012 was like none other, as an enormous crowd calling for Catalan independence took over the heart of Barcelona. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere that day, the people were very serious about their demands. On the back of this show of force, Catalonia's governing politicians turned secessionist claims into a new headache for a government in Madrid that had only just survived a near-meltdown of Spain's financial system. Through extensive travel and reporting, as well as over fifty interviews with leading Catalan personalities, Raphael Minder explains how Catalans feel about their economy, history and culture, and how secessionist forces have tried to reshape Catalan identity. |
Contents
1 Creating Statehood on the Streets | 1 |
2 Celebrating a Defeat | 21 |
3 Catalonias Hazy Borders | 33 |
4 Remembering the Civil War and Franco | 53 |
5 Reviving a Language after Dictatorship | 75 |
6 Catalonias Great Melting Pot | 95 |
7 A Conservative Divorce | 113 |
8 The Shared Disease of Corruption | 127 |
14 The Business of Sharing | 215 |
15 The Violence of Basque Secessionism | 227 |
16 Civil Disobedience and the Rule of Law | 243 |
17 Playing Politics in Catalan Sports | 257 |
18 Pleasures and Tensions around the Table | 273 |
19 The Facts of a Good News Story | 287 |
Conclusion | 299 |
List of Interviews | 305 |