Spotlight on Spain and Catalonian independence

“Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today’s technical resources while maintaining the property system.”

- Walter Benjamin, 1936

On the streets in Spain: not only the homeless

Liz Cooper 14 January 2013

The monarchy, the political and economic systems, even the judiciary and the church appear to be failing the people of Spain as they face what amounts to a right-wing coup by a Government that legislates by decree. Their only option seems to be to protest on the streets, says Liz Cooper.

Catalonia: the case for glocal rethink

Pere Vilanova 2 December 2012

We do not know which classes are at loggerheads. We have to engage in a profound rethinking of one of the greatest mutations of the last decades: the true complexity of our contemporary societies.

Elections in Catalonia: it takes two to tango

Patrice de Beer 28 November 2012

On Sunday November 25, the Catalan elections illustrated the fact that, in politics, nothing is ever sure. But also, and more importantly, that nothing is ever as simple as politicians would like it to be.

Deconstructing false myths: Spain vs Catalonia

Sergio Casesmeiro 27 November 2012

This Sunday's election confirmed the success of nationalist parties in Catalonia - paving the way for a probable referendum on independence. However, this outcome is alienating to many - Catalans and Spaniards. When two cultures have been interlaced for so long, how does one draw the line between "them" and "us"?

If voting could change anything: the 2012 Catalan Elections

Matthew Tree 23 November 2012

A vote next week will probably enable the controversial referendum on independence in Catalonia. Madrid continues to try to thwart the move, while demonstrations – and statistics – tell a different story

Deadlock for Catalonia and Spain

Fernando Vallespín 8 October 2012

Fortuna, the crisis, gave Artur Mas, Catalonia’s Premier, the Machiavellian occasione for a jump forward towards full (?) national sovereignty. This is not the message that we need to hear in these turbulent times.

Catalonia and Spain

Joan Subirats 21 September 2012

If the answer is independence, what was the question? Does is really make sense to demand sovereignty at a time when no-one knows where to find it? A new political phase has commenced in Spain.

The nuclear options of Catalonia

Andres Ortega 20 September 2012

The huge demonstration in Barcelona on September 11 – the national day of Catalonia – under the banner of “Catalonia, a State of Europe”, has changed the stakes. Independence would be bad for Catalonia, but it would be even worse for Spain.

Separatism in times of crisis in Spain: the search for a future

Jordi Vaquer 18 September 2012

Civil society organisations in Catalonia have generated a feel-good and positive project, purging traditional pro-independence of its most strident anti-Spanish elements.

Homage to Catalonia (revisited)

Patrice de Beer 14 September 2012

As Catalans massively take to the streets of Barcelona to demand independence, we are reminded that the Catalonian question is far from settled. And the current economic crisis exacerbates old, underlying tensions.

Catalonia-Spain: Deadlock

Pere Vilanova 14 September 2012

September 11: the world - and Spain - is taken by surprise with the images of over a million people marching down through the streets of Barcelona, peacefully, in a very calm and cheerful mood, with no incidents whatsoever – in itself marking quite a distinctive exception to the trend in these years – but claiming nothing less than In-de-pen-den-cia, Independence.

Barcelona i Catalunya: the real thing

Fred Halliday 9 June 2010

The scholar of world politics and openDemocracy columnist Fred Halliday lived and worked in - and fell in love with - Barcelona. In a warm essay written five months before he died on 26 April 2010, Fred celebrates the home of his last years.

Spotlight on Cyprus

A selection of our best articles on Cyprus.

Previously: Italy | Rebuilding Greece | The Icelandic Experiment | Spain and Catalonian independence

The media in Europe

From Murdoch and Berlusconi to the new Hungarian media law, the media is the first theme of our new Joining the dots series.

Building a common foreign policy in crisis Europe: mission impossible?

Europe 2.0

Debating the promise and pitfalls of new forms of governance for Europe 2.0

How did right-wing populist parties change our self-conceptions in Europe?

Reinventing the left

How should the left respond and adapt itself to the new challenges in Europe?

Euro: Writing on the wall?

Our debate about the euro and the euro zone crisis.

What to expect from European ballot boxes in 2013?

A selection of our best articles on Europe.

There and back again? Media freedom and autonomy in Central and Eastern Europe

Václav Štětka

Can Europe make it? Editors

Rosemary Bechler is Editor of openDemocracy

David Krivanek is Editor of Can Europe make it?

Francesca E.S. Montemaggi is Associate Editor of Can Europe make it?

Reinventing democracy in Europe

Ash Amin and Pep Subirós' June 2012 guest week on reinventing democracy in Europe.

Reclaiming democratic demands from the populists
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