Lost Credibility: Who Should Be Blamed for the Increasing Support for Separatism in Catalonia

COUFALOVÁ, Lucie. Lost Credibility: Who Should Be Blamed for the Increasing Support for Separatism in Catalonia. Politologická revue. Česká společnost pro politické vědy, 2017, vol. 1, No 23, p. 133-159. ISSN 1211-0353.

Basic information

• Original name: Lost Credibility: Who Should Be Blamed for the Increasing Support for Separatism in Catalonia
• Name in Czech: Ztráta důvěryhodnosti: Kdo by měl být obviněn z rostoucí podpory separatismu v Katalánsku
• Authors: COUFALOVÁ, Lucie (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Politologická revue, Česká společnost pro politické vědy, 2017, 1211-0353.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50601 Political science
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14560/17:00098435
• Organization unit: Faculty of Economics and Administration
• Keywords in English: bilateral trade; credibility; European Union; grievances; nationalism

Abstract

The recent growth of the Catalan separatist movement is traditionally interpreted as a  consequence of the bad economic performance of the region, or rather the whole country. Th is paper, however, aims to prove that despite the economy’s unquestionable role in the intensifi cation of the nationalist confl ict there may be other important factors involved. One of them is the case of the central government’s loss of credibility and grievances felt by the Catalan people. Th is may have led to an increase in separatist tendencies. On the other hand, the general political environment can be seen as a determinant of bilateral trade. Th erefore, the bad relations between Catalonia and Spain and the increasing separatism in Catalonia aff ect negatively the mutual trade links between the region and the rest of the country. However, this eff ect acts in both directions, as trade diversifi cation and internationalization may also have encouraged separatism. Th e lack of credibility of the government of Mariano Rajoy and the Popular Party has resulted in responses by the inhabitants of Catalonia which are the completely opposite of those expected by the prime minister and his party. Th e absence of dialogue from the central government encourages the separatist movement rather than discouraging it, and threats act as a very strong motivator for those who desire an independent Catalan state.

Links

• MUNI/A/1003/2016, interní kód MU: Name: Hospodářská politika integrace a desintegrace

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A