The Next Independent State in Europe? Catalonia's Critical Juncture and the Conundrum of Independence.

Catalonia's growing calls for independence have stunned the international press. Current conventional wisdom sees the issue of secession as something caused by the disastrous development of the Spanish economy in the last years. However, there is more to this than purely economic arguments. In this article I argue that, although economic factors also play a role, Catalan political demands for independence are a product of a recent critical juncture. In particular, I show that throughout history Catalanist political actors have pursued three goals: a democratic system, a more modern economy and the implementation of a plurinational state. The third demand is still vivid and has pushed Catalans to diverge from the traditional path: instead of seeking a new path towards accommodation within Spain, Catalans have decided to take the secessionist route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]