Catalonia

Experts explore the historical and contemporary challenges facing four parts of the world that have aimed for statehood

The Spanish political crisis provoked by Catalonia’s ongoing push for independence has yet to be resolved – and has already had a massive impact on the country. It has led to the jailing of a number of pro-independence Catalan politicians, following the constitutionally illegal referendum on Catalan independence held in 2017. It has provoked a counter-mobilisation of Spanish nationalists, and is a key factor in the rise of the far-right-wing party Vox. And it is a major element in the instability of the Spanish political system. Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, recently formed a minority coalition government,