A piece that examines the possibility of Brexit from the viewpoint of Catalonian separatists:
Pro-independence politicians in Catalonia – who long for a break with Madrid – are taking a far more nuanced approach. Although most people in Spain are strongly pro-European, Catalan separatists recognise that Brexit could help set a precedent for how the EU deals with a reconfigured Europe.
Raül Romeva, the Catalan minister for foreign affairs said: “Catalonia has been following with great interest the debate that is taking place these days in the UK and its possible outcome. British citizens have been given the opportunity to compare all the various points of view before voting freely on what kind of relationship they want their country to have with the European Union. This is beneficial for any democracy: it reinforces it and makes it stronger.”
Whatever the result, adds Romeva, the referendum has shown that citizens are “free to decide on their sovereignty in a democratic way”.
“Europe has always adapted itself to new realities. We have seen it in the past, we will see it now with the United Kingdom and we will continue to see it in the case of Catalonia.”
Catalonia’s regional president, Carles Puigdemont, recently told the Guardian that he saw many parallels between the rhetoric deployed by the Remain campaign and language used to counter moves towards Catalan independence.
“We have also suffered campaigns of fear,” he said. “I remember when the banks started issuing their opinions. They treated us as if we were not grown-ups and said a whole lot of lies.”
Puigdemont also downplayed suggestions that the UK’s departure from the EU would tear apart the union, saying: “The EU will make an extraordinary display of political realism, and an admirable, Darwinian ability to adapt.”
My belief is that geopolitical regions would operate at their best when configured to be as small, and regionally-oriented as possible. This would lead to a greater degree of shared identity and purpose, and a reduction in the power of larger nations to compel regional minorities. This is one of the reasons that an independent Catalonia, Kurdistan, or Scotland make sense. Of why the NY state senate should not have as much authority regarding New York City policies.
The hypothetical benefits that members of larger geopolitical entities gain can clearly be erased by the loss of control in local matters. When the NY Senate can overrule a planned NYC 5 cent fee for plastic bags, we see the tortured logic of ‘overrule’.
And the discussion above that shows the politics of fear used to argue against Catalonian independence is exactly the playbook used in the Brexit discussions.
from Stowe Boyd http://www.stoweboyd.com/post/146351439897
