Conflict is part and parcel of life that is inevitable that touches on organizations concerned with economic, political or social aspects of life. How conflicts are solved, thus, is more important as it determines the direction that issues take and the final outcome. Solving conflict objectively is encouraged by experts and professionals in conflict management and resolution and, hence, the skills, strategies and knowledge in solving conflict have become an important part of life as people and organizations experience conflicting situations on a daily basis. The field of politics has realized more conflicts than others where internal as well as external interests have determined the main actors involved and the nature of conflict experienced at both the local, regional and international level. Scholars and researchers in conflict-related issues have tried to come up with theories and explanations that help people understand the underlying conflicts and possible causes as well as design models and approaches that can be used to solve conflicts amicably between and among different players locally and internationally. Political scientists also have been on the forefront in the development of political theories and models that mostly apply in political situations and conflict cases that help people understand more conflicts related to politics at both the local and international level. However, this paper presents an analysis of the current conflict between Spain and Catalonia. It first presents a summary of the conflict noting historical factors that have led to the present status quo. It then analyzes the conflict between Spain and Catalonia and finally concludes by justifying the defense of the event’s importance to the global and why people have to care.
Summary
Provision of a Concise Historical Backdrop to the Event
Spain and Catalonia conflict have dominated the media and press in most parts of the world in the recent times that has profiled the event making the world know and digest more about the case. Spain is an important player in Europe and world narration rich in cultural, historical events as well as a dominant player in the sporting world that has experienced peace and tranquility in the recent times (decades) and, thus, the conflict between Spain and Catalonia has exposed Spain and region at large due to the way the conflict was handled by the actors involved. The conflict, according to analysts is described as the countries worse political crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1975 with the death of General Francisco Franco described as a dictator (Woolf 2017). Catalonia in the recent times has expressed bid for independence through referendum processes and such attempts have been met by a heavy police crackdown through the Catalonia region from the Spanish government. However, in analyzing the conflict deeply, the root causes of the conflict are much more than meets the eye that transcends to many hundreds of years ago. It traces the history of the two main actors involved in the conflict. Catalonia was an independent region that had its own laws, language and customs in the Iberian Peninsula, which is modern Portugal and Spain. The birth of modern day Spain resulted with the defeat of the dynasty at the time of King Philip V. The subsequent kings tried to impose the Spanish language, laws and customs in the entire region but were abandoned in 1931 and established the national Catalan government (BBC News 2018). In 1977, Catalan region was granted autonomy once more. Catalonia region has valued its identity and rich history and in particular language and culture that they feel is more under threat from the Spanish government that has preferred Castilian (Spanish) as the official language in the region. In the year 2006, the Spanish constitutional court overruled and revoked some of the important aspects that were enjoyed by Catalans such as recognition of Catalonia region as a nation within Spain. The national Spanish government also reduced money remitted back to Catalonia and this sparked calls for independence as Catalonia is an economic hub that drives Spanish economy to a great extent. The Catalans demanded more from the national Spanish government than what is remitted (Minder 2017). They see Catalonia as helping poor parts of Spain at their own expense. The calls for independence has continued to grow over time with the separatists dominating the regional parliament and politics in the recent times that resulted in 2014 symbolic referendum and 2017 full referendum on 1st October 2017. On 27th October 2017, the Catalan parliament declared independence actions that have been condemned by Spanish constitutional court and the Spanish government resulting in intense conflict and violence between the separatists and government security agencies that has resulted in a number of politicians jailed and others seek self-imposed exile (Encarnación 2017).
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Identification of the Important Actors
The important actors involved in the conflict include the regional Catalonia government, the Spanish national government, the separatist’s political parties in the Catalonia region such as JxCat led by Mr Carles Puigdemont currently ousted Catalan president and CUP as well as the conservative Popular Party (PP) headed by Prime Minister Rajoy. The Spanish constitutional court is also an important actor in the conflict between Spain and Catalonia.
Full Explanation and Presentation of the Question At Hand
The case is a conflict. The contested issue is Catalonia’s quest for independence and autonomy with more powers and decided to control the political, economic as well as social aspects in the Catalan region. The Spanish national government recognizes the impact that the Catalan region and in particular the Barcelona has to its nation-state that has proved to be an economic powerhouse contributing immensely to the national government in terms of taxes and economic development (Crameri 2015). The different sides are attempting to achieve self-interest and advantages that arise from the Catalan region. The Catalan administration and leaders are trying to maintain and restore the Catalan culture and lifestyle that include preservation of the Catalan language among other traditions. They have restored Catalan as among the official languages in Catalonia region as well as the main language that schools use to teach and used in public schools. The leaders feel the Spanish government is trying to impose and slowly kill the Catalan culture at the expense of the Spanish language and culture in the region. The Catalan region through its leaders also tries to have more economic and financial control due to the economic hub that Catalonia has proved to be. They often argue that the taxes that they give to the national government is more than what is remitted back to Catalonia region as well as the services provided by the national government in terms of services such as the provision of healthcare services and supporting education programs among others. The Spanish government, on the other hand, tries to maintain the status quo and have a stronger control over Catalonia region to quash the independence calls experienced in the region over time (Viladot 2017). The Spanish government recognizes the impact that Catalonia region has to the entire country in terms of economic aspects, cultural and social aspects. It, hence, cannot afford to lose the region and, thus, tries every option available to maintain the status quo. They were unable to resolve their issue during the pre-conflict bargaining phase in the past because they did not include all the actors involved in reaching the decision made in the past. For example, the constitutional court has revoked parts of the autonomy agreed between the Spanish government and the Catalan government resulting in the renewal of conflict and calls for separatism. The Catalans feel the state is using its machinery and agencies that it controls such as the Spanish courts among other to help it achieve its objective in the conflict (Micó, and Carbonell 2017). The conflicting parties also failed to address and present their goals objectively in the previous discussion and, therefore, they both had a hidden agenda in the past discussion that was not tabled in the past discussion events.
Analysis of the Event
There exist many political science theories that try to explain the different political phenomenon in the world. The just cause theory, as well as choice theory in the political science, explain and apply in the presented event that tries to justify the reason why Catalonian region wants to separate and secede from being part of Spain and establish a full autonomy and independence. The just cause theory advocates that separatists and secession mostly is the only option available to rectify grave injustices that have happened in the past limiting the development of the region or ethnic group in the political, economic as well as a social aspects in the country or region as a result of grave injustices experienced in the past. Cultural secessionism applies in the Catalan case where the Catalans feel they have a right to protect and develop their own culture and in the end have a distinct national identity by seceding into an independent state.
How the Problem Began
The Spanish and Catalonia problem began a long time ago even before the formation of the present Spanish state. The Catalans had their own independence and autonomy in the past at the times of Iberian Peninsula before the formation of present Spain. They, thus, feel that grave injustices have been applied to them by the Spanish government that refuses to accept the fact that what they are advocating, for now, was once part of their system and administration (Lepič 2017).
Explanations of the Actor's Actions Thus Far
The main actors involved in the conflict that is the Spanish national government and the Catalonian governance and administration thus far have continued to advocate for their own internal interest that continues to perpetuate the conflict. They have at times tried to restore past autonomy and address the concerns objectively in the past that gave the Catalan region autonomy in its administration among other factors that they had advocated for (Tortella 2017). However, with the revocation of the previous given powers and autonomy by the constitutional court, it has continued to raise the Catalans separatists ideas and movements that have led to conducting of the referendum in the recent days resulting in more conflict between Catalans leaders and supporters of separatists movements and the state agencies. The Spanish government, thus, so far has continued to resist options that try to rectify past grave injustices noted from actions such as compelling Catalans to speak Castilian (Spanish) as the official language at the expense of their language (Catalan).
Predictions of What the Actors May Do In The Future
The actors might in the future come to the negotiating table and talk about the issue openly and objectively as they have established desired goals and objectives to be accomplished. They would realize that both would lose in one way or the other and, therefore, negotiate about common interest might be among their priority. The Catalans might get the autonomy they had in the past but conditionally that they would halt the calls for secession and independence as had been the case after the restoration of democracy in the year 1975 that resulted in tranquillity in the country for a longer period in the recent times (The Telegraph News 2017). The actors might try to rectify the grave injustices that have happened and take a compromised position and in particular, the Spanish national government that might be compelled to restore the autonomy that the Catalan government had and enjoyed in the past that led to prolonged peace and tranquillity. The Catalan governance also would have to be compelled to revoke and cancel its call for independence when the freedom and autonomy they had in the past is restored. The actors, hence, would be compelled to negotiate in the future and reach a compromised level where the interest of each actor is considered.
Reasons Why the Public May Find It Particularly Relevant or Important
The public may find it important that the issue is addressed objectively as Spain constitutes an important part of Europe and the world at large because of its rich history. Spain is ranked among the most democratic and liberal societies in the world and the recent events that led to conflict between supporters of the separatist's movements and the state agencies and in particular the police force painted a negative picture of Spain at the international level that oppresses freedom and democratic principles (Medir 2015). The public might also use the case as a study and note how the issues are resolved and the final verdict about the situations as many places experience the same sentiments where the national government tries to suppress distinctive groups that identify themselves through their ethnicity, culture or ideologies in the world.
Defense of the Event's Importance
The Spanish and Catalonian case is important because in the times of globalization, that the concept has dominated most parts of the world making the world described as a village because of the ease that issues that touch on political, economic and social are addressed from any part of the world, the world should care about the developments in the conflict between Spanish national government and Catalonia region to enhance the benefits that globalization continues to bring such as increased human interaction and business opportunities among others. The conflict, thus, needs to be checked and resolved amicably to eliminate any possible human suffering that might result either from the direct conflict and violence as witnessed when the police confronted the Catalonians that resulted in bloody confrontation leading to loss of lives and injury to people, destruction of the property, exile of political leaders and jailing of some among other negative results of the conflict that only led to human suffering.
In conclusion, the conflict between Spanish national government and Catalonia is an example of political conflicts experienced in the world. There are many similar incidences that transpire in many parts of the world. Political theories have tried to digest and explain different possible situations and conditions that might result in such conflicts. It is, hence, imperative that such conflicts are solved amicably and objectively by addressing the underlying issues. It is, therefore, encouraged to conduct a thorough research to understand the root causes of conflict to enable solving the problem objectively.
References
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