Empire without the state, state without the borders – conception of Catalan Countries in contemporary socio-political thought of Catalonia

Maria Pobóg-Lenartowicz

University of Opole, Institute of Political Science

Abstract

Aspirations dor independence of Catalonia are increasingly draw the attention of researchers and observers of the European political scene. Possibly division of Spain could have consequences for all of Europe and the European Union. However, visions of a possible future Catalan state, comes down generally the idea to the area of the current Autonomous Community of Catalonia. Meanwhile, both the historical and cultural roots of Catalonia and the Catalan nationalist aspirations date back much deeper. Catalan national doctrine, which is based on the cultural concept of so-called Catalan Countries, presupposes the unification of all the catalan-speaking lands. Although we should not expect to comply with this requirement in the coming decades, it is worth to consider how these doctrinal foundations influence the current policy of the regional authorities and social attitudes. What is more, Catalonia remains an interesting example of the use of the opportunities offered by cross-border cooperation in a united Europe and a contribution to the reflection on how the European Union regional policy has already led to changes in the role of different actors on the European political scene. In this article, the author will present the source of the concept of the Catalan Countries and its contemporary connotations, as well as analyze the current relationship between the regions belonging to the Països Catalans with particular emphasis on the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the department of Pyrénées Orientales.

Keywords:

Catalonia, Spain, Països Catalans, Catalan nationalism, separatism