The Regions of Spain

© 2017 American University Model United Nations Conference All rights reserved. No part of this background guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without express written permission from the American University Model United Nations Conference Secretariat. Please direct all questions to [email protected] A NOTE Julia Clark Chair Estimats Diputats del Parlament de Catalunya, Dear Diputats of the Parliament of Catalonia, My name is Julia Clark and I’ll be serving as your Chair for the Parliament of Catalonia. I cannot wait to meet all of you in February. Time is of the essence and the Catalan Republic needs creating! As for a little bit about myself: MUN is my life! Last year, I served on the AmeriMUNC Secretariat as the Charges D’Affaires and currently I am an Assistant Head Delegate of the AU Model United Nations competitive travel team. I have done MUN for seven years, competing at 24 conferences across the US and Canada, and I once chaired a conference in the Netherlands! I’m proud to say that AmeriMUNC will be my eighth time chairing. Outside of MUN, I am also the President of my sorority, Phi Mu. If you have any questions about greek life or collegiate MUN, I’d love to chat via email or at the conference. I’m personally very excited to be forming our own new nation, the Catalan Republic. I just studied abroad for four months in Madrid, Spain and was at the center of the real life action surrounding the Catalan independence movement. In Madrid, the capital of Spain, I was primarily exposed to pro-Spanish unity sentiment. However, I was in Barcelona (the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia) when they “declared their independence” on October 27, 2017, so I was able to experience the Catalan celebration. Two days later, I experienced a counter-protest that supported Spanish unity. The country is divisive and divided; it will take skill, negotiation, and thorough deliberation to see our cause move forward! I can’t wait to see what you all bring to the table. Here is a video I made about my experience in Catalonia on October 26-29, 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygod-h2F9NA&feature=share I am absolutely thrilled to be back serving as a Chair this year. Last year I missed working closely with delegates like you because it simply is one of the most rewarding experiences. I know that this year’s AmeriMUNC is going to the best ever thanks to the enormous effort put in by the entire staff. See you in February. ¡Independència i revolució! With gratitude, Julia Clark Chair, Parliament of Catalonia [email protected] Page 2 | AmeriMUNC V // CATALONIA sources, “approximately 40% of the Spanish population after the Puerto Rican and Cuban flags, both of which live in areas with two official languages [and] about 28% represent countries that fought against the Spanish live in regions with Catalan as the official language.”[3] monarchy.[5] Catalan can be thought of as somewhat similar to Castilian Spanish but with heavy influence from French, Sardinian, Italian, Romanian, and other romance languages. It’s important to note that Catalan is an independent language, and not a dialect of Spanish, as often assumed. The use of the Catalan language was banned during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain during the 20th century; even private telephone calls had to be conducted in Castilian Spanish. After Franco’s death, Catalan was made the official language of Catalonia. In 1983, it was made legal to teach Catalan in schools.[4] Flags For your reference, the Spanish flag is as follows: Historical Origins of the Catalan Independence Movement Most history relating to the Catalan question begins after 1978. It is crucial to understand that Spain was under a military dictatorship under General Francisco Franco from 1939 until his death in 1975. During this dictatorship, the entirety of Spain was oppressed, especially Catalonia, as exemplified by the banning of the Catalan language. After Franco’s death, Catalonia was granted autonomy and prospered with the rest of Spain. Due to high levels of tourism, business activity, and investment, Catalonia has gained the most economic clout in Spain. Although Catalonia received more autonomy in 2006, this progress was backtracked in 2010 due to various rulings by the The Senyera, pictured below, is the official flag of the Spanish Constitutional Court. When the 2008 financial Spanish Autonomous Communities of Catalonia, Aragón, crisis hit and public spending initiatives were cut in the Balearic Islands, Valencia, and the historically Catalan- Catalonia, secession movements gained momentum. speaking city of Alghero in Sardinia: Later in 2014, the Catalan Parliament petitioned the Spanish government, asking to hold a referendum to ask Catalan citizens two questions: “Do you want Catalonia to become a State?", and if so, "Do you want this State to be independent?" Although seemingly similar questions, both had distinct meanings; the first question refers to Catalonia existing as a state doesn’t necessarily imply that the state would be independent, whereas the second question asks if Catalonia did become a state, if that state would be independent or still be tied to Spain. In the way these questions were asked at the polls, the second question was only asked if the first question was answered as “yes” by the voter. However, the Spanish government ruled this entire referendum unconstitutional and did not allow it to be The L'Estelada, pictured below, is the the pro-Catalan voted upon. In order to circumvent the court ruling of independence flag. As you can see, there is a blue chevron unconstitutionality, the Catalan government changed the and white star that is added to the traditional Senyera flag referendum from “binding” to a “non-binding seen above. The blue chevron and white star are modeled consultation”. The court also banned this, but the Page 3 | AmeriMUNC V // CATALONIA By the Map The Regions of Spain CATALONIA MADRID Page 4 | AmeriMUNC V // CATALONIA The 90% pro- independence result must not be taken at face value due to the low voter turnout rate and the non- participation of anti- independence voters. referendum occurred anyway on November 9, 2014, Cultural Rhetoric & Economics ultimately resulting in the arrest of various Catalan Culturally, Spain differs on many levels in different government officials that made the referendum occur. geographic regions. In light of the Catalonian Then, with new Catalan President Carles Puigdemont in independence question, there has been an enormous power, he declared a binding referendum would occur for amount of rhetoric going back and forth about the independence; this referendum was held recently on differences between these regions. October 1, 2017 with a result of 90% in favor of independence, based off of a 43% voter turnout. However, An important region to note besides Catalonia is Catalan parties that were anti-independence called for non- Andalucia. Andalucia is the Southern portion of Spain, and participation in the referendum in order to not recognize is best known for attractions in cities such as Sevilla, the referendum as legitimate. The 90% pro-independence Granada, and Cordoba. Andalucia, due to Arab occupation result must not be taken at face value due to the low voter for about 700 years, was the first place in Spain inhabited turnout rate and the non-participation of anti-independence by Arabs and the last to be inhabited by Spain; because of voters. this, Andalucia features many Arab cultural elements from this historical backdrop. For example, many state that the For a great summary of the Catalan question, this Youtube Andalusian way of life is much slower than other parts of video is highly recommended. It covers everything up until Spain like in Madrid or Catalonia. With this, pro-Catalan October 25, 2017: independence voices have been known to paint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-G4xhjrok Andalusians as lazy and not economical productive for the rest of Spain. Some see Andalusians, as well as the rest of In order to cover the very important weekend of October Spain, as “sucking dry” what Catalonia provides 26-29, 2017, your Chair, Julia, produced the following economically to the rest of the country. video from when she was in Barcelona during this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygod- Controversially, Artur Mas, President of the Catalan h2F9NA&feature=share Democratic Party, in 2012 stated that “the cultural DNA of Catalans is intertwined with our long belonging to the Page 5 | AmeriMUNC V // CATALONIA Franco-Germanic world… something must endure in our turnout if a future vote were ever taken? Although a vote DNA, because we Catalans have an umbilical cord that with a higher turnout of the population would be seen as makes us more Germanic than Roman”.[6] These sorts of more legitimate in the eyes of many, would the result still attempts and statements to distance Catalans from the rest be primarily pro-independence or would it be diluted by of Spain show the messaging and cultural rhetoric that has many anti-independence voters? The role of public opinion been occurring recently. How does cultural rhetoric play is huge in this topic and it must be considered how various into this topic, and can you use it to your advantage or will leaders and politicians can influence public opinion and it backfire? voter turnout through various methods for various purposes. Although much of the Catalan reasoning for the desire for independence is identity-based, many pro-independence Formation of a New State supporters cite economic motive. Many Catalans are A major issue that must be addressed is the idea of frustrated with the taxation and spending policies that international recognition.

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