Catalonia: Nation Building Without a State

Catalonia presents an interesting instance of what are termed 'minority nations' or stateless nations'. Whereas such nations tend to be economically underdeveloped or dependent, Catalonia has long exercised leadership within the Spanish economy. At the same time, Catalonia offers important insights for many of the key political and social issues currently under debate in North America and provides one of the strongest claims that nationalism can be 'civic' rather than 'ethnic'.Catalonia provides a thorough survey of contemporary Catalonia's politics, society, culture, and economy. It traces Catalonia's political and economic insertion within Spain, paying particular attention to the terms of Catalonia's political autonomy. Focusing primarily on the last two decades, the text begins with a review of Catalonia's historial trajectory, movements, and the impact of the Franco regime.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1: The Historical Roots of Nationhood 2: The Rise of Catalan Nationalism 3: The Transition to Democracy 4: Catalonia as an Autonomous Community 5: Political Economy: Europeanization and the 'Regional State' 6: Society: Leaving the 'Stateless Nation' 7: The Catalan Language: The Politics of 'Normalization' 8: Nation and Identity in Contemporary Catalonia 9: Conclusions

About the Author :
Kenneth McRoberts is Professor of Political Science at York University and the author of many texts, including Quebec: Social Change and Political Crisis, and Misconceiving Canada: The Struggle for National Unity.

Review :
This is a well-informed and well-written book. It will be indispensable for all those interested in Catalan and Spanish politics and economics, as well as for those interested in the main challenges faced by nations without states in the age of globalization. This book offers an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the history, economics, culture and political life of Catalonia. Meticulously researched, the strength of this book lies in its bibliography and information generated by a series of extensive interviews with Catalan politicians, civil servants and academics. The level of detail garnered in this account is remarkable, making it an excellent reference book ... the book contributes to the literature on Catalan nationalism and provides a succinct and accessible introduction to contemporary Catalonia. This book is dedicated in its entirety to contemporary Catalan politics, society and economics and, as such is a useful handbook for researchers and practitioners alike.