Anti-Catalanism
Encyclopedia
Anti-Catalanism is the collective name given to various political attitudes, nowadays particularly in Spain
. Hence, it can refer to a reaction against Catalan nationalism
or, particularly, Catalan independentism
. In a broader context, it may mean a xenophobic
attitude towards the Catalan language
, Catalan people
, Catalan culture or anything identified with Catalonia
and the political implications of this attitude. In its most extreme circumstances, this may also be referred as Catalanophobia.
Anti-Catalanism is most strongly associated with those Spain-wide political parties that are more to the right of the political spectrum. Far-right political groupings such as España 2000
object strongly to the autonomy enjoyed by Catalonia, claiming that the granting of autonomy to Catalonia and other regions will lead to the breakup of Spain. A former saying amongst latter day Francoists during the Spanish Transition (late 1970s, early 1980s) illustrating this attitude was: Antes roja que rota, which roughly translates as: "(I would) Rather (see Spain) red than broken", meaning that these people would prefer to see Spain become Communist than have regions (like Catalonia or the Basque Country
) seceding from it.
Several political movements, known for organizing boycott
s of products from Catalonia, are also actively identified with anti-Catalanism.
called Blaverism
. It is a movement stemming from the refusal against Joan Fuster
's concept of Països Catalans, which sees Valencia as part of a grouping of regions revolving around a common Catalan culture which should unite politically as an independent state from Spain and has sometimes been perceived as "Imperialistic
. Proponents of Blaverism see this concept as Catalan expansionism. Blaverism is best reflected in debates concerning the status of Valencian
, even though this phenomenon has diminished greatly over the last 25 years.
any criticism on their performance as elected representatives by deflecting it to Catalans or Catalonia as a whole instead. As such, whatever shortcomings or disagreements with their nationalistic agenda or any less than clear financial management are simply discarded as "anti-catalanism" thus derailing demands of accountability
by the general public and pre-empting any policy or ideological criticism; according to this view, the "anti-catalanism" speech foments a non-dissenting environment and enhances support to Catalan nation building plans from a scarcely informed local or international community who is typically keen to support the underdog.
Critics argue accordingly that, within a context of manipulative politics and lack of objective and clear argumentation, the term anti-catalanism can be used as a demagogic or chauvinist concept to channel all non-conforming views about the Catalan nationalist agenda, which, according to these sources, silences alternative points of view, distorts reality and instigates animosity and hatred towards those –whether in Catalonia or, chiefly, in the rest of Spain– who do not conform to the group ideologies from a victimisation perspective, thus greatly reducing the possibility of diverse political choices.
Two new political parties created in Spain during the 2000s adhere to this line of reasoning, Citizens-Party of the Citizenry –which was established in Catalonia– and UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy
, which has roots in a similarly nationalist dominated autonomous community, that of the Basque country.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Hence, it can refer to a reaction against Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism
Catalan nationalism or Catalanism , is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or full independence of Catalonia....
or, particularly, Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism is a political movement, derived from Catalan nationalism, which supports the independence of Catalonia or the so-called Catalan countries from Spain and France...
. In a broader context, it may mean a xenophobic
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
attitude towards the Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, Catalan people
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
, Catalan culture or anything identified with Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and the political implications of this attitude. In its most extreme circumstances, this may also be referred as Catalanophobia.
Anti-Catalanism is most strongly associated with those Spain-wide political parties that are more to the right of the political spectrum. Far-right political groupings such as España 2000
España 2000
España 2000 is a social patriot political party of Spain. At present they are without parliamentary representation, but they have a growing presence in Valencia and a minor presence currently in Catalonia, Granada, Navarra, Sevilla and Madrid....
object strongly to the autonomy enjoyed by Catalonia, claiming that the granting of autonomy to Catalonia and other regions will lead to the breakup of Spain. A former saying amongst latter day Francoists during the Spanish Transition (late 1970s, early 1980s) illustrating this attitude was: Antes roja que rota, which roughly translates as: "(I would) Rather (see Spain) red than broken", meaning that these people would prefer to see Spain become Communist than have regions (like Catalonia or the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
) seceding from it.
Several political movements, known for organizing boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
s of products from Catalonia, are also actively identified with anti-Catalanism.
Blaverism
Anti-Catalanism has a local and distinctive manifestation in the Valencian CommunityValencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
called Blaverism
Blaverism
Blaverism is a body of ideas in the Valencian Community, Spain that emerged with the Spanish transition to democracy after the death of Francisco Franco, and characterised by its opposition to Joan Fuster's book Nosaltres, els valencians , which revived the concept of Països Catalans which...
. It is a movement stemming from the refusal against Joan Fuster
Joan Fuster
Joan Fuster i Ortells was a Valencian writer, who published mostly in Catalan.- Life and works :He was born in the village of Sueca near Valencia, Spain, in a relatively prosperous middle class family. Both his parents were pious Roman Catholics and Carlists. His father was a renowned local...
's concept of Països Catalans, which sees Valencia as part of a grouping of regions revolving around a common Catalan culture which should unite politically as an independent state from Spain and has sometimes been perceived as "Imperialistic
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
. Proponents of Blaverism see this concept as Catalan expansionism. Blaverism is best reflected in debates concerning the status of Valencian
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
, even though this phenomenon has diminished greatly over the last 25 years.
Concept criticism
Critics of this concept regard so-called anti-catalanism as a political manoeuvering tool, coined and used especially by Catalan nationalists. Critics state that the "anti-catalanism" tenet can potentially be used as a victimisation tool by means of which some elected Catalan representatives sublimateSublimation (psychology)
In psychology, sublimation is a mature type of defence mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are consciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behaviour, possibly converting the initial impulse in the long term...
any criticism on their performance as elected representatives by deflecting it to Catalans or Catalonia as a whole instead. As such, whatever shortcomings or disagreements with their nationalistic agenda or any less than clear financial management are simply discarded as "anti-catalanism" thus derailing demands of accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
by the general public and pre-empting any policy or ideological criticism; according to this view, the "anti-catalanism" speech foments a non-dissenting environment and enhances support to Catalan nation building plans from a scarcely informed local or international community who is typically keen to support the underdog.
Critics argue accordingly that, within a context of manipulative politics and lack of objective and clear argumentation, the term anti-catalanism can be used as a demagogic or chauvinist concept to channel all non-conforming views about the Catalan nationalist agenda, which, according to these sources, silences alternative points of view, distorts reality and instigates animosity and hatred towards those –whether in Catalonia or, chiefly, in the rest of Spain– who do not conform to the group ideologies from a victimisation perspective, thus greatly reducing the possibility of diverse political choices.
Two new political parties created in Spain during the 2000s adhere to this line of reasoning, Citizens-Party of the Citizenry –which was established in Catalonia– and UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy
Union, Progress and Democracy
Union, Progress and Democracy is a Spanish political party founded in September 2007.It is a progressivist party, between social democracy and social liberalism. One of its goals is to build a federal system for Spain and European Union, with clear responsibilities distributed among local...
, which has roots in a similarly nationalist dominated autonomous community, that of the Basque country.
External links
- Historical origins of anti-Catalanism
- Interview to Josep Benet, in Catalan
- The tradition of denying Catalan repression
- Catalanophobia mass' expression in Spain
- Manifesto by the political party Ciutadans, denouncing alleged excesses in Catalan nationalist rhetoric
Further reading
- Jaume Medina, "L'anticatalanisme del diari ABC (1916-1936)", Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat | col·lecció Biblioteca Serra d'Or. ISBN 978-84-7826-606-7