THE SPANISH DIVIDE A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL SPEECHES DESCRIBING THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM ON OCTOBER 1, 2017 Amy de Vries ANR 1232212 June 11th 2018 Tilburg University Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor Thesis (840900) Under the supervision of dr. T.G. Leesen Second reading by dr. D.J.M.S Janssens Contents Chapter 1: Identifying the Relationship ........................................................................................................ 3 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3 The History of the Conflict ........................................................................................................................ 3 The Modern Legal Relationship ................................................................................................................ 4 Research Question .................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Structure ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Relevance .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 2: The Foundation ........................................................................................................................... 8 History ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Ethos .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Pathos ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Logos ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Theoretical Application ........................................................................................................................... 11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 3: Four Speeches viewed through the lens of Aristotle ................................................................. 13 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Key events ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Prime Minister Rajoy: Televised Press Conference on 1 October 2017 ................................................. 15 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Ethos .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Pathos .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Logos.................................................................................................................................................... 18 Nigel Farage: European Union Parliament Speech on 3 October 2017 .................................................. 20 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Ethos .................................................................................................................................................... 21 Pathos .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Logos.................................................................................................................................................... 22 Felipe VI, King of Spain: State of the Union Address on 3 October 2017 ............................................... 23 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Ethos .................................................................................................................................................... 24 Pathos .................................................................................................................................................. 24 1 Logos.................................................................................................................................................... 26 President of the Catalan Government Carles Puigdemont ..................................................................... 27 : Catalan Parliament on 10 October 2017 ............................................................................................... 27 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 27 Ethos .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Pathos .................................................................................................................................................. 30 Logos.................................................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 4 ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 33 Ethos, Pathos & Logos ............................................................................................................................. 33 The Legality of Spanish Constitutionalists ............................................................................................... 34 The Legality of Catalan Independents ..................................................................................................... 35 History and Economics ............................................................................................................................ 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 39 Attachment 1: President Rajoy: Press Conference ................................................................................. 42 Attachment 2: Nigel Farage: European Parliament ................................................................................ 47 Attachment 3: King Felipe VI State of the Union Address ...................................................................... 49 Attachment 4: Carles Puigdemont : Catalonia Parliament ..................................................................... 51 2 Chapter 1: Identifying the Relationship Introduction On October 1st, 2017 Catalonia and Spain were the focus of the world when the Spanish region of Catalonia held a referendum, asking the Catalonian citizens to vote for or against independence. The referendum brought the Catalonian government on a collision course with the Spanish state. The impact resonated when the National Police, the Guardia Civil, violently intervened in attempt to stop the referendum by using repressive measures, rubber bullets, fists, and batons. This violence resulted in more than 900 seriously injured Catalonian citizens, all while being broadcasted on the television in homes around the world (Dearden, 2017). These scenes have reverberated over news stations for months as if it were the first time this conflict has occurred. This is not the case, since the tensions between Spain and Catalonia have a long history. The History of the Conflict To comprehend the current conflict between Spain and Catalonia, understanding the relationship and the history they share is imperative. The historical tensions echo into our modern-day world. Catalonia is a region, situated in the north east of the Iberian Peninsula with, of old, Barcelona as its most important city. In the 12th Century AD, Catalonia and the neighboring kingdom of Aragon were united under a single dynasty. Despite this political union, usually referred to as the Crown of Aragon, Catalonia had managed to maintain its political autonomy, identity and Catalan language (Catalonia, 2018). Since Catalonia has been one of the first Roman provinces in