For a long time you thought, Spain is immune. The Iberian Peninsula seemed to be a refuge in sea of European populism, free from very right, free from riots against foreign and or political madness. But far from being lacking, Spain has no gene that protects it from seducers who offer supposedly simple solutions to complex problems. Only disease has or symptoms here: dissatisfaction due to corruption, a erodierender state, and lack of prospects manifest mselves in form of separatism.
It is not only in Catalonia, almost every region has its own peculiarities, with which it differentiates itself against ors. The dream of healing world in small has been typical of Mediterranean societies since antiquity, where confidence in central governments is low and when danger is more brigantes than politicians-or politicians who sign like clan.
Most of Identitarian riots remain in folkloristic area, but not only: in Basque Country, secessionist tendencies led to bloody terrorism, which was slowing down when terrorists ‘ ages were tired and a successful economic policy were made obsolete. The Basque example also shows where way out of Catalan crisis can be. The Basques enjoy extensive tax sovereignty, in Vitoria and Bilbao y are master of cashier, which proves once again: ultimately it is about money.
Puigdemont failed The day after speech of Catalan head of government is clear: long-awaited secession of Spain will not exist for time being. Now Madrid is on train. By Thomas Urban More…
And that is just barely in Spain since burst of housing bubble, of which country has not recovered. The austerity policies imposed by Brussels have made people rebellious. It is fought for every euro. Needless power of solidarity, economically successful Catalans are less than ever willing to subsidies poorer regions. The Spanish financial compensation system usually forces regional governments to deliver money in Madrid, from re it is redistributed.
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A country like Spain with such cultural centrifugal forces, however, needs a federalism that deserves this name; The only question is wher stubborn Galicians Mariano Rajoy understands that. The Catalans, who rightly insist on ir cultural identity, again have to understand that drawing of borders is not way. In times of globalization, separatism is as modern as a typewriter in age of computer.
Real problems covered by symbols
The current independentism is nothing more than an upsurge in “Democrácia sentimental”, Gefühlsduseligen democracy, which philosopher and political scientist Manuel Arias Maldonado calls typical hallmark of our unsure times. The real problems are concealed by symbols, emotional speech, political signs of acrobatics and lust for irrationality.
What are real problems? In wake of euro crisis, millions of Spaniards are impoverished, wages are precarious, jobs uncertain, one lives from family solidarity; Spain is a country of waiters, where only tourism as an economic engine really works.
This also applies to Catalonia, whose old industrial heart beats weak (unlike in Basque Country). Instead of new economic concepts and productivity offensives, people are fed up with national symbolism. Politics throughout Spain is unimaginative and revolves around itself. A socio-politically dysfunctional state responds to protest with gag laws and clubs.
Spain needs a new political culture
It took a long time to finally go to streets of those people who grasp se connections at weekend and demand an end to absurd debate about Catalan independence. The majority of Catalans have long known that ir own State does not solve all problems that separatists promise in a populist manner. But y will not give up so easily-as long as grievances that y have made strong remain intact.
Spain needs to be able to survive, transparency, honesty, open dialogue, willingness to balance and courage to clearly identify actual challenges-a new political culture.
There are a few hopefuls like Ada Colau, mayor of Cosmopolitan and Unseparatist metropolis of Barcelona. It has played a decisive role in bringing radicals of shady Pyrenees valleys to ir senses for time being. But Pragmatikerinnen like Colau are rare. It is refore to be expected that Spain and Europe will continue to have ir trouble with Catalonia conflict.
Puigdemont chooses path of reason-Rajoy must follow Catalan premier renounces completion of independence of his region. In bitter quarrel with Madrid, he disclaims an incalculable adventure. Comment by Stefan Ulrich More…
