Independence, in political terms, is considered to be when a country or province is separated and no longer under the reign of an opposing colony or government. The term represents many major issues throughout the history of numerous empires and governments worldwide. Classic and well known cases of independence have hugely influenced loads of other countries and provinces to stand up and speak for themselves and to declare their own demands for rights. With a higher GDP than Spain itself, Catalonia is considered to be one of the richest and most industrialized regions of Spain (Crameri 2014).
Majority of the province’s income and revenue sources come from the industry and services sector via textiles and other exports, and highly developed tourism that made Catalonia one of the most attractive destinations in Europe if not the whole world. It is made up of four provinces that include Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, and Lleida. The region is considered a nationality even though it has not yet been granted full independence by Spain. The issue of Catalonia’s independence has been a hotly contested political issue for many years.
Numerous referendums and voting sessions have been held in Catalonia regarding whether the region should be awarded independence by Spain (Diaz & Zamorano 2016). Majority of voters agreed that Spain should grant Catalonia full independence. The referendums have been downplayed by critics who argue that they are held in areas that support independence. In addition, the Constitutional Court ruled a major 2014 referendum illegal (Diaz & Zamorano 2016). Catalonia should gain independence from Spain because it has its own unique language and culture, makes huge fiscal contributions that fund investments in other regions, and it has its own political system under its statute of autonomy.
The main hindrance to Catalonia’s independence is a clause in the Spanish constitution that bans secession. Therefore, granting the region independence would contravene the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land (Morato 2016). Despite this hindrance, the Catalan regional parliament passed a motion to commence the secession process, a move that angered the Spanish government so much that the Prime Minister sought the legal assistance of the Constitutional Court. He argued that Catalans were trying to bring down the nation by pushing for a process that would undermine the supremacy of the constitution.
The Catalans are so committed to attaining independence that they have held several polls to evaluate people’s readiness for separation from Spain. In a 2014 poll, more than 80 percent of voters supported secession (Morato 2016). However, the vote was not recognized by law because the Supreme Court had given a ruling that proclaimed it illegal. Proponents of secession argued that the results of the poll were a sign that Catalans were ready to separate from Spain. The poll was highly criticized because the low turnout of 2.2 million people did not suffice to represent the will of the people (Morato 2016).
Catalonia has practiced its autonomy for several years especially in critical areas of governance that include policing, education, and health (Orwell 2012). The leader of the region has called for more self-governing powers especially with regard to areas that include diplomatic service, armed forces, and a central bank. The actions of Catalans are a threat to the Spanish central government and could compel the Prime Minster to bring into play article 155 of the constitution. The article gives power to the national government to coerce an autonomous regional power such as Catalonia to fulfill its duties as described in the constitution (Orwell 2012).
The political struggle between Catalonia and the Spanish central government is projected to continue because both sides have presented demands that the other side is unwilling to fulfill. After the 2014 poll that was declared illegal, acting president of Catalonia Artur Mas was accused of ingoing court orders. Political activists have called for dialogue between leaders from both sides. The Spanish government is unable to coerce Catalonia to drop the quest for independence because so far, demands for secession have been conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.
One of the reasons for full independence is the tax deficit that Catalonia suffers. Catalonia is the most highly taxed regions in Europe with high fiscal contributions paid to the central government (Crameri 2014). For instance, a 2011 report revealed that the region contributed £6 billion to the central government, an amount that represented an excess of what was invested back into the region. Despite its high tax contributions, Catalonia’s infrastructure, health services, schools, and roads are in very poor conditions.
Moreover, majority of the decisions made by the central government do not benefit the region. In fact, they have negative effects. For example Barcelona Airport is in very bad condition even though it is Spain’s busiest airport. Its roads are falling to pieces; it has a poor train service, lacks metro connection, and has no connection to international direct flights (Diaz & Zamorano 2016). The port of Barcelona lacks a freight railway line even though it is highly profitable. The central government’s budgetary allocation to Catalonia has been on the decline and went to as low as 9.5% in 2015.
In 2013, the budgetary allocation was 16% of the national budget. This drop in budgetary allocation has angered many Catalans because it seems that the central government has made a resolution to sideline them. Nationalists from the region have accused the government of sidelining them and using their money to invest in other regions (Orwell 2012). They argue that if they were granted independence, they would use all their money to fund their public services and improve the lives of the people in the region. Awarding Catalonia independence will improve infrastructure, roads, and social services because majority or all of the tax income would be received by an individual and separate Catalan government that would be hugely responsible in benefiting and improving the region itself, rather than generously handing it over to the central government of Madrid, which are clearly not interested in developing and evolving Catalonia, even though it is one of the richest parts of the country.
One of the reasons why Catalonia would prosper as an independent nation is its economic success due to industrialization that is due to trade in textile goods and advancement in the maritime industry (Alexander 2014). Recently, the region has made great advancements in its finance, services, and technology sectors. According to government statistics, the region accounts for more than 18% of Spanish GDP (Alexander 2014). Even though Madrid has a higher per capita GDP, Catalonia has a higher GDP. In that regard, granting Catalonia independence would have negative economic effects because almost 20% of economic productivity would be gone (Alexander 2014). Economic experts have argued that an independent Catalonia would be richer than Portugal and Hong Kong, and it would be the 34th largest economy in the world. In terms of its GDP per capita, it would be wealthier than Italy, South Korea, and Israel (Alexander 2014).
Catalonia has a unique culture than differs from that of the rest of Spain in various ways. Their politics, language, and economics are totally different from those of other regions (Desquens 2003). Residents are famous for being industrious and mean. They acquired these traits from the mercantile activities they engaged in during the industrial revolution. They have a culture of togetherness that is evident from the existence of clubs that range from collection of mushroom to sports (Crameri 2014).
The spirit of teamwork and togetherness forms the base of their culture. Catalonia has been attacked needlessly for its national identity and language (Crameri 2014). In addition, its school model has been attacked and debased. Despite raging attacks, the Catalan school model has been described as a good example of cultural mixing because both Spanish and Catalan are used for learning and instruction (Desquens 2003). Spanish nationalists have attacked Catalonia and threatened to dismantle the Catalan language (Diaz & Zamorano 2016). Hostility between the region and the rest of Spain is evidence of their differences. For example, two of the best clubs in Spain (Barcelona and Real Madrid) are great rivals. Both are considered main parts of the country’s culture. They are more than just sport rivals. In fact, they represent huge political directions and opinions in the country.
Therefore independence might be the most excellent solution for this issue of culture and language, rather than proceeding into more conflict of language and communications, it will definitely put a halt to it. Catalonia has a history of more than 10 centuries, it is the most industrialized region in Spain, it has a population of more than 6 million people, and its policing, health, and education sectors are well established(Morato 2016). These are good enough reasons why Catalonia should be granted independence.
There have been several attempts to recentralize Spain and eliminate Catalonia’s national identity and self governance. Efforts to normalize Spain slowed down after the fall of Francisco Franco in 1975 (Desquens 2003). The death of Franco returned democracy and Catalonia was able to recover its self governance. However, Spanish nationalists work hard to deny Catalonia independence by decreasing the use of its language and trim its self-government institutions). In addition, Spain is a country that is made up of several independent communities.
The act of autonomy in Catalonia acts as the constitution of the region. It clarifies the rights and duties of its citizens and defines the roles and responsibilities of self-government institutions. There have been several attacks on the act of self-government that governs Catalonia. The fact that Catalonia has its own political system in place is proof enough that the region needs to be awarded independence from Spain. It can stand on its own because it has the necessary resources to operate and manages itself as an independent nation.
Recent statistics from the Catalan government have revealed that approximately 20% of the region’s population comprises people who were born in different regions of Spain (Orwell 2012). Opponents of Catalonia’s independence are pushing for constitutional reform that will grant the region more powers instead of secession. Catalonia is a vital part of Spain that has great cultural, political, and economic influence (Orwell 2012). It is unlikely that the central government will agree to their secession demands.
Catalonia has a unique political system that is founded on the Autonomy Statute. Its institutional system is referred to as the Generalitat, and its powers shape regulate the region’s self-government system that is based on the Statue of Autonomy as well as the constitution of Spain (Morato 2016). The system comprises the Presidency, the Government, the Parliament, local government bodies, and other institutions. The Parliament represents the Catalans and is the most important component of Catalonia’s self-governing system.
The Parliament is independent, unchallengeable, and its composition differs from that of Spain. For example, there are several political parties that have large number of representatives in the house. Despite the existence of different political ideologies among parties, all parties hold similar opinions regarding the Catalan-Spain relationship (Orwell 2012). Catalan politics are highly influential because several Catalan parties have representation in the Spanish parliament and play an important role in influencing major political decisions (Morato 2016). The Statute of Autonomy defines the rights and duties of Catalans and regulates the operations of the government.
In addition, it defines the region’s political institutions as well as its relationship with the rest of Spain. The Statute gives Catalonia self-governing powers that allow it to have its own police force. The autonomy of Catalonia and the many years that the region has practiced self-governance are good enough reason why Catalonia should gain independence from Spain (Morato 2016). The Statute of Autonomy was first ratified in 1932 but later abolished after the Spanish Civil War because Catalans were opposed to Franco’s military forces (Morato 2016). Franco was against Catalonia’s self-government and ensured that their language and culture were suppressed. However, Catalans merged from political suppression after Franco’s death. In 1979, span became a democratic nation, and as a result, a second statute was passed. This statute was emended by a 2005 referendum that gave the Generalitat more governing power (Morato 2016).
Opponents of Catalonia’s succession from Spain argue that the region’s independence would cause many problems because of its low population and lack of adequate resources (Desquens 2003). They argue that Catalina does not have the resources necessary to support it as an independent nation. However, these claims have been reputed by economic experts who have provided opposing argument that support the succession. First, they cite the non-existence of an economic theory that postulates the requirements of a country’s size for it to be guaranteed economic success.
A thorough study of the 10 richest countries in the world based on GDP per capita reveals that their populations are close to that of Catalonia (Desquens 2003). Catatonia has a population of six and half million people that suffices to constitute an independent nation. Another argument against succession is unavailability to adequate natural resources. Opponents argue that if Catalonia became an independent state, it would fail economically because it lacks adequate resources to support its economy (Morato 2016).
Proponents of succession have countered this argument by stating that economists have not yet established a relationship between a country’s economic prosperity and the availability of resources. Even though Venezuela has abundant oil reserves, its economy is a failure (Desquens 2003). On the other hand, Japan has fewer economic resources than many countries and it has emerged as one of the top ten largest economies in the world. Therefore, lack of resources is not a good enough reason to deny Catalonia independence from Spain. The best way for Catalonia to prosper economically is to engage in international trade and attract direct foreign investment. Spain is the main market for products and services from Catalonia (Morato 2016). Therefore, succession from Spain would result in an economic disaster because it would lead to loss of a major market.
This argument is flawed because if Catalonia became independent, it would be unlikely that Spain would boycott its products. Even if it did, there would be still a large market within the European Union. The main reason why Spain is Catalonia’s main market is due to the affordability and high quality of products and services offered (Desquens 2003). It would be expected that succession would not affected the market as long as the quality and price of products is maintained at reasonable levels.
Opponents also argue that Catalonia will continue to benefit economically if it remains part of Spain. The costs of military personnel and diplomatic representations are shared, and as a result, Catalonia experiences little economic pressure (Morato 2016). However, this argument ignores the fact that Catalonia the contributions that Catalans would make in case they became independent are half what they currently contribute (Desquens 2003). In addition, the cost of certain services will in future be handled by inhabitants of the European Union.
Catalonia should gain independence from Spain because the region has its own language and culture as well as health, education, and policing systems, which are considered major characteristics of an independent country. It has a strong economy that is based on the success of the maritime, technology, finance, and services industries. Moreover, the region is the most industrialized in Spain and it is heavily taxed by the central government to fund investments in other regions. Underfunding of its public services has been a major issue in the secession debate.
Its Statute of Autonomy serves as its political foundation. Catalonia has been independent for a very long time and referendums conducted have all passed a vote to award the region independence from Spain. However, Spanish nationalists and citizens have refused. They have strongly attacked the Catalan language and culture, and have in many instances tried to normalize Spain in order to trim its self-government institutions. Catalonia’s huge tax and revenue contribution to the central government of Spain is proof that the region can stand on its own as a respected country, which could be a part of the European Union as well. Fears of exclusion from the EU and the loss of the Spanish market for its products are baseless.
Many other regions that demand for independence do not contain as much advantages and features that Catalonia have that could qualify them to be an independent and a well developed country. Its contributions to the central government and the culture of Spain are proof that Catalonia is ready for secession from Spain. Its contribution to the national budget and economic projections of its GDP per capita in case of secession suffice to make it a self-sustaining independent nation. The time for independence has never been more appropriate than the current time. Therefore, it should be awarded independence from Spain.
References
Alexander, H 2014, Why Does Catalonia Want Independence from Spain?
Crameri, K 2014, “Goodbye, Spain”: The Question of Independence for Catalonia, Sussex Academic Press, New York.
Desquens, J 2003, Europe’s Stateless Nations in the Era of Globalization: The Case of Catalonia’s Secession from Spain.
Diaz, A & Zamorano, M 2016, Why Do Catalans Want to Be Independent.
Morato, X 2016, Catalonia: A New Independent State in Europe?: A Debate on Secession within the European Union, Routledge, New York.
Orwell, G 2012, Homage to Catalonia, Harper Collins Canada, Montreal.