Myths and Realities of Secessionisms

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Historical and Constitutional Background: An Account of the Catalan Secessionist Process

   • Miguel Beltrán de Felipe

   Pages 1-37

3. Constitutional and Comparative Analysis of the Catalan Secessionist Process

   • Miguel Beltrán de Felipe

   Pages 39-75

4. Paradoxes, Mistakes, and Possible Steps Towards an Appeased Solution

   • Miguel Beltrán de Felipe

   Pages 77-121

5. Back Matter

   Pages 123-125

   PDF

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the Catalonian crisis in Spain from a historical, political and legal perspective. Using the precedents of Québec, Scotland, and partially Veneto and Bavaria, the author highlights some of the key issues of contemporary secessionist nationalism, including its relationship with sovereignty, the right to have a referendum, and the capacity of a particular territory to amend the constitution in order to admit secession.

• Catalanism
• Catalan elections
• right to decide
• right to self-determination
• Constitutional Court
• unilateral declaration of independence
• referendum
• rebellion
• Canada and Québec
• UK and Scotland
• remedial secession
• secessionist process
• internal enlargement
• democracy
• nationalism
• plurinational Spain
• constitutional amendment
• federalism
• constituent power
• sovereignty

“Professor Beltrán has written a deep and interesting book about the so-called Catalan secessionist process, in which complicated deep constitutional and political questions are ingratiated. … It can be valuable for academics looking for patterns in the complicated world of nationalism and constitutionalism, but also for non-academic audiences interested in a well-written and challenging book on one of the most candent topics in modern Europe: an unprecedented attempt of secession in an occidental democratic country.” (Javier Padilla Moreno-Torres, European Public Law, Vol. 26 (2), 2020)

“When it comes to the Catalonia question any three persons will have four different views. This volume, slim in size but rich in content, soberly helps navigate the critical legal issues underlying the dispute.” (Joseph H.H. Weiler, New York University USA)

“Miguel Beltran de Felipe explains critically but unprejudicedly the evolution of the Catalan secessionist movement, and the constitutional problems it has raised in recent years. The author discusses the normative issues with honesty and objectivity, and sheds light on them through the lenses of comparative constitutional law. This is an important contribution to the scholarly literature on secession.” (Victor Ferreres Comella, Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain) and University of Texas at Austin, USA)

“Secession has become a worldwide problem. This book captures the essence of the Catalonian secessionist process and analyses its constitutional, international and comparative aspects in light of current myths onthe nation and on sovereignty. This work deserves a place of honour in the contemporary debate on the State, from both the national and the global point of view.” (Sabino Cassese, Emeritus Justice of the Italian Constitutional Court, Emeritus Professor of the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, Italy)

“Miguel Beltran de Felipe has produced a both a clear and fluent account of the struggle between Catalonia and the Spanish state on the issue of independence, and a deeply thoughtful reflection on what he sees as fundamental flaws in the actions both of the Catalan independence movement and the government in Madrid.” (John Lloyd, The Financial Times, UK)

“Identity, secession and democracy. This is the complex background of this book in which Miguel Beltrán offers us a balanced vision of the territorial conflict initiated by Catalonian secessionists in democratic Spain. A succinct but comprehensive, intense essay on the limits of law and politics.” (Francisco Caamaño, ACoruña University (Spain), former Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs (2004-2009) and former Minister of Justice (2009-2011) of Spain, Spain)

• Faculty of Law, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain

  Miguel Beltrán de Felipe

Miguel Beltrán de Felipe is Professor of Law at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. He previously served as a law clerk in the Constitutional Court of Spain, as APSA-Fulbright Congressional Fellow in the House of Representatives of the US, and as a legal counsel for the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs of Spain.

Policies and ethics