COSMOS roundtable about mobilization for independence in Catalonia, its discontents, opportunities and prospects

The Constitution Day marks the anniversary of a referendum held in Spain on 6 December, 1978. Almost four decades later, the 1978 Constitutional framework faces one of its most critical moments due to Catalonia’s bid for self-determination and, ultimately, secession. Since the last regional elections in 2015, the governing pro-independence coalition in Catalonia has been rooted in its promise to organize a binding referendum on independence and its commitment to a unilateral declaration of independence if it obtained more than 50% in favour. After secessionist Catalan MPs voted to establish an independent republic, the Spanish authorities dissolved its parliament and ordered regional elections to be held on 21 December. The Catalan case represents one clear example of mass politics that transcends parties and institutions though. In order to emphasize the participatory processes generated by grassroots mobilisations which predate the actual vote by years of civil society agitation and popular contestation, we have recently coined the term “referendums from below”. We will also reflect upon the implications and challenges that the Catalan procés poses for the broader political and socioeconomic status quo.