,CATALAN ,9DEP5D5CE & ! ,CRISIS ( ,DEMOCRACY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,GELD]LOOS 

,TEXT 3 

,9 ! ESCALAT+ CRISIS SURR\ND+ ,CATALUNYA'S ,OCTOB] #a/ 9DEP5D5CE REF]5DUM1 BO? SIDES >E LEGITIMIZ+ !IR ACTIONS ?R\< EXCLUSIVE CLAIMS TO DEMOCRACY1 9S9UAT+ OR EXPLICITLY /AT+ ?AT !Y >E DEMOCRATIC :]EAS !IR ADV]S>IES >E ANTI-DEMOCRATIC4 ,MEAN:ILE1 9 ! M$IA %AD[S CA/ BY ! TWO MAJOR PLAY]S--! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T & ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T--ANTI-CAPITALI/ MOVEM5TS HAVE HIT*$ !IR DREAMS TO ! 9DEP5D5CE PROCESS1 SEEK+ TO BUILD NOT JU/ A NEW C\NTRY BUT A NEW K9D ( C\NTRY4 ,9 ! ASYMMETRICAL TUG ( W> BETWE5 !SE ?REE POSITIONS1 WE CAN EVALUATE DIFF]5T MODELS ( DEMOCRACY & POLITICAL ACTION4 

,TO DO SO1 A BIT ( HI/ORICAL GR\ND+ IS NECESS>Y4 

,9 #a#i#g#h1 ! CURR5T ,CON/ITUTION WAS ADOPT$4 ,FRANCO HAD DI$1 ,E,T,A HAD BL[N HIS H&-PICK$ SUCCESSOR TO SMI!RE5S1 & ONE ( ! L>GE/ WILDCAT /RIKE MOVEM5TS 9 WORLD HI/ORY HAD COMPLETELY DE/ABILIZ$ ! REGIME4 ,FASCISM WAS NO LONG] T5ABLE2 ,SPA9 W\LD HAVE TO GO DEMOCRATIC4 ,! FASCI/S RE-/YLIZ$ !MSELVES AS ! ,POPUL> ,P>TY1 ?\< ?IS MAKEOV] WAS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY ! P>T ( ! ,LEFT ?AT RECOGNIZ$ !M AS A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL =CE4 ,?IS P>T JO9$ ! NEWLY LEGALIZ$ ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY1 & !Y W]E REW>D$ BY GA9+ ACCESS TO P[]1 :I* !Y HELD = ! BETT] P>T ( #d DECADES1 AID$ BY ! NEWLY 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ LABOR MOVEM5T1 N[ ORGANIZ$ 9 LEGALIZ$ UNIONS RECEIV+ /ATE MONEY TO PAY ! SAL>IES ( FULL-TIME (FICIALS4 ,! PO/-FASCI/S WON BECAUSE !Y GOT TO KEEP [N+ ! C\NTRY1 & NONE ( !M HAD TO GO TO JAIL = OR*E/RAT+ ! TORTURE1 IMPRISONM5T1 & EXECUTION ( HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S AT ! 5D ( ! ,CIVIL ,W>1 & ?\S&S MORE EV]Y TIME ! WORK+ CLASS RAIS$ ITS HEAD1 RI<T ON UP 9TO ! LA/ YE>S ( ! REGIME & ! YE>S ( ! 0,TRANSITION0 TO DEMOCRACY4 ,NO1 ! ,HITL]S & ,GOEBBELS ( ,SPA9 W\LD DIE PEACEFULLY 9 !IR B$S1 MANY YE>S LAT]4 

,NE$LESS TO SAY1 ! FASCI/ SECURITY APP>ATUS WAS LEFT FULLY 9TACT BY ! DEMOCRATIC GOV]NM5T4 ,A CONCOMITANT TR5D IS ?AT ! PORTIONS ( ! ,LEFT & ! AN>*I/S :O DIDN'T ACCEPT ?IS B>GA9 ) ! DEVIL CONT9U$ TO BE SURVEILL$1 IMPRISON$1 TORTUR$1 & SOMETIMES KILL$1 ?\< N[ !Y W]E DESIGNAT$ 0T]RORI/S0 9/EAD ( 0,R$S04 

,! NEW ,CON/ITUTION WAS APPROV$ 9 A REF]5DUM M>R$ ) IRREGUL>ITIES4 ,= />T]S1 ! POPULATION HAD NO 9PUT ON :AT K9D ( GOV]NM5T !Y W\LD GET4 ,= MO/ PEOPLE1 VOT+ 0YES0 WAS NO?+ MORE ?AN VOT+ 0NO0 AGA9/ ! CONT9UATION ( ! FASCI/ REGIME4 ,IT IS HI<LY UNLIKELY1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT MO/ PEOPLE1 GIV5 ! *OICE1 W\LD HAVE VOT$ 9 FAVOR ( SUDD5LY HAV+ A MON>* 7YES1 ?AT'S RI<T1 ! PO/-FASCI/S W5T \T & F\ND A K+ TO GIVE ! NEW DEMOCRACY MORE C5TRALIZATION & /ABILITY74 ,:AT'S MORE1 VOT+ RULES W]E *ANG$ 9 ! MID/ ( ! CAMPAIGN1 SOME PROV9CES EXP]I5C$ UP TO #c.0 IRREGUL>ITIES1 MORE ?AN A MILLION PEOPLE %[$ UP TWICE ON ! VOT+ ROLLS1 #c1 PEOPLE ) A LEGAL RI<T TO VOTE 9 ,MADRID DIDN'T APPE> AT ALL1 & ! C5SUS DATA ONLY MAT*$ UP 9 #aa ( ,SPA9'S #e PROV9CES4 ,BUT1 9 CASE /ATI/ICS HAVE MEAN+1 #e#h.0 ( ! ELECTORATE HAD !IR VOTES C\NT$1 & ! RECORD$ RESULT WAS OV]:ELM+LY 9 FAVOR ( ! ,CON/ITUTION4 

,?\< ! NEW DEMOCRACY WAS BORN ON %AKY GR\ND1 ! RISE ( ! ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY & ! 9/ITUTIONALIZATION ( ! UNIONS 5ABL$ MANY PEOPLE :O O!RWISE MI<T HAVE BE5 REVOLUTION>IES TO GET ON ! GOV]NM5T PAYROLL4 ,! DRUGS SUDD5LY FLOOD+ 9TO ! 9N] CITIES TOOK C>E ( ! RE/4 ,MEAN:ILE1 POLITICAL =CES 9 ! NATIONS SUBORD9AT$ TO ! ,SPANI% /ATE--! ,CATALANS1 ! ,BASQUES1 ! ,GALICIANS--DECID$ TO SUPPORT ! NEW ,CON/ITUTION ONCE !Y WON GU>ANTEES ( REGIONAL AUTONOMY4 ,!IR LANGUAGES W]E NO LONG] BANI%$ FROM ! PUBLIC SPH]E1 & !Y C\LD HAVE P>TIAL CONTROL OV] $UCATION1 !IR F9ANCES1 !IR 9FRA/RUCTURE4 

,9EVITABLY1 ?\<1 A C5TRALIZ+ T5D5CY TOOK HOLD1 & ! GOV]NM5T 9 ,MADRID LIMIT$ ! AUTONOMY ( ! REGIONAL GOV]NM5TS ?R\< A S]IES ( LAWS1 C\RT ORD]S1 & EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGES4 ,9 #b#f1 A ,/ATUTE ( ,AUTONOMY WAS APPROV$ 9 A POPUL> REF]5DUM 9 ,CATALUNYA1 RE9=C+ ! ORIG9AL SPIRIT ( LOCAL GOV]NANCE4 ,SPA9'S ,CON/ITUTIONAL ,TRIBUNAL1 H[EV]1 ANNULL$ #ad >TICLES ( ! ,/ATUTE & REWROTE ANO!R #b#g1 MOCK+ ! ,CATALAN PRET5SION ( SELF-GOV]NM5T )9 ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 

,!N ! CON/RUCTION BUBBLE POPP$4 ,S9CE ! MANUFACTUR+ SECTOR HAD BE5 RATIONALIZ+ & %$D+ ITS WORK=CE = YE>S1 ?IS JU/ LEFT ! DEMEAN+ JOBS ( ! T\RISM SECTOR4 ,:5 ! M>KET CRA%$ & ! GOV]NM5T PASS$ H>% AU/]ITY MEASURES :ILE BAIL+ \T ! BANKS ) PUBLIC FUNDS1 ! ECONOMIC 5G9E ?AT B\<T MO/ PEOPLE'S LOYALTY TO DEMOCRACY /OPP$ WORK+1 & ! REPRESSIVE 5G9E ?AT HAD KEPT ! UNCONTROLLABLES ISOLAT$ AT ! M>G9S ( SOCIETY C\LD NO LONG] DEAL ) ! GR[+ NUMB]S ( ! 5RAG$4 

,:AT'S MORE1 ! ,POPUL> ,P>TY1 9 P[] AGA91 WAS BESET BY DOZ5S ( CORRUPTION SC&ALS TA9T+ MO/ ( ! LEAD]%IP & EV5 IMPLICAT+ ! ROYAL FAMILY1 NOR W]E !SE MUNDANE AFFAIRS1 BUT ! MO/ BRAZ5 SCAMS Y\ C\LD ?9K (1 %[+ PRET5SIONS ( ABSOLUTE IMPUNITY4 ,ONE ,P,P LEAD] EV5 0WON0 ! LOTT]Y MULTIPLE TIMES1 ACQUIR+ W9N+ TICKETS 9 EX*ANGE = PILES ( CA% 9 ORD] TO LAUND] /OL5 MONEY4 ,PROSECUTIONS M\NT$ UP AFT] PRESSURE FROM ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION1 BUT MULTIPLE ,P,P BIGWIGS DI$ %ORTLY BE=E OR AFT] GIV+ TE/IMONY1 FALL+ VICTIM TO APP>5T SUICIDES OR HE>T FAILURES4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ,SPANI% PROSECUTORS BEGAN GO+ AFT] PRO-9DEP5D5CE ,CATALAN P>TIES1 UNCOV]+ A F> MORE ORD]LY =M ( CORRUPTION AMONG ,CONV]G5CIA 7N[ ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY ( ,CATALUNYA71 ! CONS]VATIVE ,CATALAN P>TY ?AT = YE>S HAD *>G$ A #c.0 RATE TO PRIVATE COMPANIES 9 EX*ANGE = GRANT+ !M LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS4 

,SPA9 5T]$ A FULLY FL$G$ CRISIS ( LEGITIMACY4 ,MORE & MORE PEOPLE REMEMB]$ ! %AM ( '#g#h4 ,DUR+ ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T1 MANY HOI/$ FLAGS ( ! ,REPUBLIC1 ! GOV]NM5T \/$ BY ,FRANCO 9 ! ,CIVIL ,W>4 

,9 #b#a#b1 MIR$ 9 CORRUPTION SC&ALS & FAC$ ) ELECTIONS1 ,CONV]G5CIA DECL>$ SUPPORT = ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE FROM ,SPA94 ,UNTIL ?AT PO9T1 ! ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T HAD OV]:ELM+LY BE5 ! T]RA9 ( SMALL ANTI-CAPITALI/ ORGANIZATIONS & Y\? GR\PS1 PLUS A FEW L>GE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS REPRES5T+ A B\RGEOIS TAKE ON 9DEP5D5CE4 ,N[1 IT BECAME A MASS PH5OM5ON4 ,! ,SEPTEMB] #a#a? DEMON/RATION1 M\RN+ ,CATALUNYA'S CONQUE/ BY ,SPA9 9 #agad & S]V+ AS A ,CATALAN NATIONAL HOLIDAY1 HAD LONG BE5 ONE ( ,EUROPE'S L>GE/ ANNUAL M>*ES1 BUT 9 #bab ONE & A HALF MILLION PEOPLE P>TICIPAT$ 7,CATALUNYA'S POPULATION IS #g4#e MILLION74 ,A MON? LAT]1 ,CONV]G5CIA SQUEEZ$ BY & WON ! ELECTIONS4 

,RUL+ TOGE!R ) ,],C1 ! ,REPUBLICAN ,LEFT ( ,CATALUNYA1 A C5T]-LEFT P>TY ?AT ALSO DECL>$ ITS SUPPORT = 9DEP5D5CE1 !Y SUBSEQU5TLY ORGANIZ$ A NON-B9D+ REF]5DUM & 9 #bae A REGIONAL ELECTION !Y DECL>$ TO BE A PLEBISCITE ON ! QUE/ION ( 9DEP5D5CE1 9 :I* A W9 BY PRO-9DEP5D5CE P>TIES W\LD BE 9T]PRET$ AS A M&ATE = BEG9N+ A PROCESS ( SECESSION FROM ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 ,! PRO-9DEP5D5CE CAMP WON BO? ( !SE CONTE/S1 ! REF]5DUM ) A L[ TURN\T & ! ELECTIONS ) A HI< TURN\T4 ,! LATT]1 H[EV]1 DID NOT DELIV] AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY TO ! PRO-9DEP5D5CE COALITION1 ,JUNTS PEL ,SI 7,TOGE!R = ! ,YES74 ,TO =M A GOV]NM5T1 !Y W\LD HAVE TO WORK TOGE!R ) ! ,C,U,P1 ! GRASSROOTS1 MUNICIPALI/ P>TY =M$ BY ?OSE SAME ANTI-CAPITALI/ ORGANIZATIONS ?AT HAD PREVI\SLY L$ ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T1 & :I* W]E EV5 MORE PRO-9DEP5D5CE ?AN ! TWO BIG P>TIES4 

7,= REF]5CE1 ! ELECTION GAVE #fb SEATS TO ,JX,SI1 #a TO ! ,C,U,P1 #eb TO ! ?REE EXPLICITLY ANTI-9DEP5D5CE P>TIES1 9CLUD+ ! TWO ?AT HAVE RUL$ ,SPA9 S9CE ! 5D ( ! DICTATOR%IP1 & #aa TO A LEFTW+ PLAT=M CONNECT$ TO ,B>CELONA 5 ,COMU & ,PODEMOS1 :I* HAVE AN AMBIGU\S POSITION ON 9DEP5D5CE2 9 O!R WORDS1 #gb 9 FAVOR1 #eb AGA9/1 & #aa AM5ABLE TO SOME K9D ( NEGOTIATION OR RE=M74 

,F9ALLY1 ) ! ,C,U,P PU%+ & PULL+ TO KEEP ! O!R TWO P>TIES TO !IR TIMEL9E1 ! ,CATALAN REGIONAL GOV]NM5T HELD A REF]5DUM ON ,OCTOB] #a/1 & ! :OLE WORLD HAS SE5 ! IMAGES ( ,SPANI% POLICE BEAT+ UP OLD FOLKS WAIT+ 9 L9E TO VOTE4 

,9 E>LY ,SEPTEMB]1 ! ,CATALAN P>LIAM5T PASS$ A LAW DICTAT+ ?AT 9DEP5D5CE W\LD BE DECL>$ )9 #dh H\RS ( A FAVORABLE RESULT4 ,LAWS1 ?\<1 >E PAP]1 & ?IS ONE WAS SET ASIDE4 ,ON ,OCTOB] #a1 ,CATALAN PRESID5T ,C>LES ,PUIGDEMONT F9ALLY GAVE HIS SPEE* ANN\NC+ ! REF]5DUM RESULTS4 ,HE DECL>$ 9DEP5D5CE & IMM$IATELY SUSP5D$ ! DECL>ATION TO ALL[ = MORE NEGOTIATIONS1 COPY+ ! TACTIC US$ BY ,SLOV5IA 9 #a#i#i4 

,FROM MID-,SEPTEMB] TO MID-,OCTOB]1 ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T HAS BE5 US+ POPUL> MOBILIZATIONS & APPEALS TO 9T]NATIONAL M$IATION 9 ORD] TO DEF5D ! REF]5DUM & APPLY ! RESULTS1 :]EAS ! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T HAS BE5 US+ LEGAL & POLICE TACTICS TO BLOCK ! REF]5DUM & !N TO KEEP ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T FROM SEC$+4 ,MO/ REC5TLY1 !Y HAVE IMPRISON$ ! LEAD]S ( ! TWO MO/ IMPORTANT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS1 ! ,CATALAN EQUIVAL5TS ( ,AMNE/Y OR ! ,N,A,A,C,P4 

,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT CLAIMS TO DEMOCRACY HAVE BE5 SO C5TRAL TO ! ONGO+ W> ( IDEAS4 ,CONFID5CE 9 DEMOCRACY ?R\<\T ! ,SPANI% /ATE HAD BE5 ?OR\<LY UND]M9$4 ,PEOPLE W]E RIS+ UP & FI<T+ AGA9/ ! E/ABLI%$ ORD] ) 9CREAS+ FREQU5CY4 ,EXCEPT = ! RADICAL FR+ES1 !Y W]E NOT POSITION+ !MSELVES AGA9/ DEMOCRACY1 BAS$ ON AN EV5-KEEL$ ASSESSM5T ( :AT DEMOCRACY HAD GIV5 !M2 9/EAD !Y W]E MAK+ AN UNSUB/ANTIAT$ HI/ORICAL CLAIM ?AT ?IS WAS NOT DEMOCRACY1 DEMOCRACY WAS SOME?+ ELSE4 

,N[1 ! POLITICAL LEAD]S ( BO? SIDES ( ! CONFLICT >E PROMIS+ TO GIVE ! PEOPLE DEMOCRACY1 & 9 />K CONTRA/ TO ! HORIZONTAL1 LEAD]LESS MOVEM5TS ( ! LA/ YE>S1 MO/ PEOPLE HAVE REW>D$ !M ) !IR 5?USIASM & !IR ATT5TION4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS ONCE AGA9 BECOME AN 5GAG+ SPECTATOR SPORT4 ,& ONE ( ! MO/ WORRISOME DEVELOPM5TS ( ?IS TURN ( EV5TS IS ?AT NATIONALISM HAS PROV5 TO BE ! *IEF ME*ANISM BY :I* DEMOCRACY IS MADE P>TICIPATORY AGA94 

,!ORETICALLY1 ?IS %\LD COME AS NO SURPRISE4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS ALWAYS BE5 A NATIONALI/IC & MILIT>I/IC =M ( GOV]NM5T2 9 FACT1 MOD]N DEMOCRACY & ! NATION-/ATE %>E ! SAME HI/ORICAL ROOTS4 ,IT MAKES P]FECT S5SE4 ,IF AU?ORIT>IAN POLITICAL P[] MU/ BE LEGITIMAT$ BY 0! PEOPLE01 ELITES WILL FI<T--& MO/ ( ALL GET US TO DO !IR FI<T+ = !M--OV] :O CON/ITUTES ! PEOPLE & :O IS AN \TSID]4 7,IMMIGRANTS1 = EXAMPLE1 DIDN'T GET TO VOTE 9 ! 9DEP5D5CE REF]5DUM47 

,?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT ! PRES5T CONFLICT IS A CONTE/ BETWE5 TWO SYMMETRICAL SIDES4 ,SPANI% NATIONALISM & ,CATALAN NATIONALISM 9 ! PRES5T CONTEXT BE> FEW SIMIL>ITIES4 ,= WEEKS BE=E ! REF]5DUM & ! FIR/ DAYS AFT] IT1 ! L>GE/ POPUL> DEMON/RATIONS 9 FAVOR ( 0,SPANI% UNITY0 W]E ORGANIZ$ & ATT5D$ PRIM>ILY BY NEO-,NAZIS & FASCI/S1 & EV5 :5 MORE RESPECTABLE POLITICAL =CES TOOK OV]1 ULTRAS )9 ! CR[D ATTACK$ J\RNALI/S & PEOPLE ( COLOR ) NE> IMPUNITY :]EAS HUGE MASSES *ANT$ 9 FAVOR ( ,FRANCO OR CALL$ = ,CATALAN POLITICIANS TO BE S5T TO ! GAS *AMB]4 

,AS IS USUALLY ! CASE ) 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5TS ( HI/ORICALLY OPPRESS$ NATIONS1 ! CURR5T WAVE ( ,CATALAN NATIONALISM SPANS ! POLITICAL SPECTRUM & 9CLUDES MO/ SOCIAL JU/ICE ACTIVI/S4 ,CASES ( PRO-9DEP5D5CE VOT]S APPLAUD+ ?OSE :O >RIV$ TO VOTE DRAP$ 9 ,SPANI% FLAGS HAVE BE5 WIDELY PUBLICIZ$2 !IR IDEAL IS ONE ( PLURALISM RA!R ?AN =CIBLE UNITY4 ,NONE!LESS1 ?IS MOVEM5T ALSO EXCLUDES PEOPLE1 & PRO-9DEP5D5CE DEMON/RATORS CLAIM+ TO BE NONVIOL5T HAVE BEAT5 UP OR SIL5C$ 9DIVIDUALS !Y CONSID]$ EXT]NAL TO 0! PEOPLE04 

,SO :OSE CLAIMS TO DEMOCRACY >E MORE LEGITIMATE8 

,TE*NICALLY1 ! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T IS #a.0 CORRECT :5 IT CLAIMS ! ,CATALAN REF]5DUM IS 0ILLEGAL04 ,! ,SPANI% ,CON/ITUTION DOES NOT ALL[ AUTONOM\S REGIONS TO C>RY \T 9DEP5D5CE REF]5DUMS4 ,IT DOES ALL[ ! ,CON/ITUTIONAL ,TRIBUNAL TO 9VALIDATE LAWS ?AT GO AGA9/ ! ,CON/ITUTION4 ,! ,TRIBUNAL DID JU/ ?AT ) ! REF]5DUM LAW & ALL RELAT$ LAWS4 

,O!R ,SPANI% CLAIMS >E WEAK]4 ,!Y CLAIM ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T IS NOT RESPECT+ ! WILL ( ! POPULATION1 BUT POLL+ 9 ! MON?S BE=E ! VOTE CONSI/5TLY %[$ ?AT A MAJORITY ( ! RESID5TS ( ,CATALUNYA W]E 9 FAVOR ( HOLD+ A REF]5DUM4 ,& N[1 AFT] BE+ BEAT UP BY ,SPANI% POLICE = TRY+ TO VOTE1 AFT] SEE+ !IR GR&P>5TS %OT ) RUBB] BULLETS1 HEADS CRACK$ OP51 F+]S 9T5TIONALLY BROK51 PEOPLE DRAGG$ BY !IR HAIR1 & Y\NG WOM5 SEXUALLY ASSAULT$ BY SMIRK+ COPS1 A SOLID MAJORITY IS N[ 9 FAVOR ( 9DEP5D5CE1 :]EAS BE=E OP9ION WAS SPLIT D[N ! MIDDLE4 

,! GOV]NM5T 9 ,MADRID ALSO DECRIES IRREGUL>ITIES 9 ! REF]5DUM1 SU* AS LA/ M9UTE *ANGES TO VOT+ PROC$URES1 OR PO9TS TO ! L[ VOT] TURN\T 7#d#c.074 ,?IS IS HYPOCRITICAL ON SEV]AL C\NTS4 ,IRREGUL>ITIES 9 ! ,CATALAN REF]5DUM W]E LESS] ?AN ?OSE 9 ! REF]5DUM ?AT APPROV$ ! ,CON/ITUTION ,MADRID N[ WIELDS AS ! S\RCE ( ITS LEGITIMACY4 ,IT'S ALSO A *EAP >GUM5T BECAUSE ! ,SPANI% POLICE W]E DO+ EV]Y?+ !Y C\LD--RAID+ PR9T]S1 SEIZ+ BALLOTS1 %UTT+ D[N WEBSITES1 ?REAT5+ POLL /AFF]S1 >RE/+ TE*NICIANS & POLITICIANS--TO MAKE ! REF]5DUM IMPOSSIBLE4 ,! FACT ?AT ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T PULL$ IT (F ) SO FEW IRREGUL>ITIES IS A MAJOR TRIUMPH = !M1 & AN EMB>RASSM5T TO ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 ,& ! FACT ?AT #b4#b MILLION PEOPLE VOT$1 :5 DO+ SO MEANT EXPOS+ !MSELVES TO POLICE VIOL5CE1 :5 SOME #c POLL+ /ATIONS W]E CLOS$ BY =CE1 :5 ALL ! MAJOR M$IA W]E CON/ANTLY BOMB>D+ !M ) ASSURANCES ( ALL ! DISA/]S ?AT W\LD BEFALL ,CATALUNYA IF IT SEC$$1 ) ! C5TRAL GOV]NM5T PROMIS+ ?AT ANY RESULTS W\LD BE NULL & VOID1 IS A TRIUMPH = DEMOCRATIC P>TICIPATION1 & ?IS IS COM+ FROM SOMEONE :O BELIEVES ?AT ! REF]5DUM & DEMOCRACY 9 G5]AL >E A %AM4 

,! ,P,P'S MODEL ( DEMOCRACY IS BAS$ ON 0! RULE ( LAW10 ! MY?ICAL--9 FACT1 HI/ORICALLY DISPROV5--IDEA ?AT )\T CLE> LAWS ?AT EV]YONE FOLL[S1 SOCIETY DESC5DS 9TO TYRANNY & CANNIBALISM4 ,TO HAVE RI<TS1 TO HAVE SECURITY1 TO HAVE LIFE1 WE NE$ TO RESPECT ! RULE ( LAW4 ,! PROBLEM ) ?IS VIEW IS ?AT LAW IS ALWAYS BAS$ ON CONQUE/4 ,TO BE MORE PRECISE1 LAW IS EI!R CONQUE/ OR ! PO/]IOR LEGITIMATION ( CONQUE/4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ! RULE ( LAW IS ! V5E] ( ! SOCIETY BAS$ ON TYRANNY & CANNIBALISM4 ,! ONLY REASON ,SPA9 GOT ! ,CON/ITUTION IT HAS TODAY IS BECAUSE ON ! ONE H&1 !RE W]E FASCI/S :O HAD WON A BLOODY CIVIL W> & CONQU]$ A C\NTRY1 & ON ! O!R1 !RE W]E SOCIALI/S :O FELT CONFID5T !Y C\LD CONTROL & PACIFY AN 9SURRECTIONAL WILDCAT /RIKE MOVEM5T ?AT WAS MAK+ ! C\NTRY UNGOV]NABLE4 ,! CURR5T RULE ( LAW 9 ,SPA9 IS ! RESULT ( AN UNE?ICAL BACK ROOM DEAL BETWE5 ?OSE TWO =CES4 ,?AT IS ! S\RCE ( ,MADRID'S LEGITIMACY 9 S5D+ RIOT POLICE TO BEAT UP OLD PEOPLE4 ,?IS IS P]FECTLY 0LEGAL0 ( !M1 BUT ANYONE :O TAKES ! LAW S]I\SLY IS LIV+ 9 A V]Y SILLY FAIRY TALE4 ,AL?\<1 S9CE ,SPA9 HAS A K+1 ! ONLY ?+ ?AT'S MISS+ = ! FAIRY TALE TO BECOME REALITY IS SOME DRAGON OR TROLL TO FI<T4 

,9 ! ,U,S 7& ANY O!R SETTL] /ATE71 ! RELATION BETWE5 LAW & CONQUE/ IS EV5 MORE OBVI\S4 ,OR HAS ANYONE =GOTT5 JU/ :AT K9D ( M5 WROTE ! ,U,S ,CON/ITUTION8 ,:AT'S MORE1 ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 LAW & DEMOCRACY IS NOT EXCLUSIVE4 ,DICTATOR%IPS1 EV5 FASCI/ ONES1 ALSO HAVE LAW CODES4 

,! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T CANNOT MAKE CLAIMS TO ! LETT] ( ! LAW1 SO !Y APPEAL TO ! SPIRIT ( DEMOCRACY1 :I* IS POPUL> P>TICIPATION & ! RITUAL ( ! VOTE4 ,TIME & TIME AGA91 !Y HAVE US$ MASS MOBILIZATIONS TO UND]SCORE ! CRISIS ( LEGITIMACY1 & EV]Y TIME !Y HAVE HELD SOME K9D ( ELECTION1 !Y HAVE WON4 ,BE=E ,OCTOB] #a1 HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE ORGANIZ$ ACROSS ,CATALUNYA TO OCCUPY & DEF5D POLL+ /ATIONS1 DIRECTLY GU>ANTEE+ !IR RI<T TO VOTE1 & NE>LY HALF ! ELECTORATE DID VOTE4 

,BUT H[ IS ?IS ELECTORATE DECID$8 ,AS M5TION$1 IMMIGRANTS W]E EXCLUD$ FROM ! VOTE1 A COMMON PRACTICE 9 DEMOCRACIES1 AS IS ! EXCLUSION ( ?OSE Y\NG] ?AN #a#h1 AN >BITR>Y1 CULTURALLY SPECIFIC LIMIT TO P]SONHOOD4 ,S9CE ,CATALAN SECESSION W\LD AFFECT ! :OLE ,SPANI% /ATE1 :Y %\LDN'T ALL ( ,SPA9 GET TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! REF]5DUM8 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 :Y %\LD ONE PEOPLE GET TO DECIDE ! FATE ( ANO!R PEOPLE1 SIMPLY BY VIRTUE ( HAV+ CONQU]$ !M8 ,& IF ?AT'S ! CASE1 :Y %\LD ,SPANI% PEOPLE LIV+ 9 ,CATALUNYA GET TO VOTE ON ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE8 ,CONQU]ORS ALWAYS RESETTLE POPULATIONS SO ?AT CONQU]$ E?NICITIES REMA9 A M9ORITY4 ,H[ IS A MAJORITY VOTE A VALID ME*ANISM = SELF-DET]M9ATION 9 ! FACE ( HI/ORICAL PROCESSES DESIGN$ TO DE/ROY ! 9TEGRITY ( CONQU]$ POPULATIONS8 ,:AT AB\T PEOPLE FROM ! 0,CATALAN C\NTRIES0 \TSIDE ( ! AUTONOM\S REGION ( ,CATALUNYA1 LIKE ,VAL5CIA & ,MALLORCA8 ,! POSSIBLE SURVIVAL ( !IR LANGUAGE & !IR CULTURE WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECT$ IF ONE P>T ( ! ,CATALAN C\NTRIES W9S 9DEP5D5CE4 ,YET ,VAL5CIA1 = EXAMPLE1 HAS NO *ANCE = AN 9DEP5D5CE REF]5DUM1 GIV5 ?AT ! B\RGEOISIE 9 ,VAL5CIA >E /RICTLY ,SPANI%4 

,IF ,CATALAN-SPEAK+ PEOPLES >E ONLY SUBJECT$ TO ! ,SPANI% /ATE 7& ,FRANCE7 BECAUSE !Y LO/ A S]IES ( W>S1 :Y %\LD ,SPANI% LEGALITY HAVE ANY BE>+ AT ALL1 & :Y %\LD A REF]5DUM BE NECESS>Y 9 ANY WAY8 ,IF EV]YONE VOT$1 & ONLY #d.0 SUPPORT$ 9DEP5D5CE1 ?AT W\LD ONLY BE A REFLECTION ( ! FACT ?AT OV] ! LA/ C\PLE C5TURIES1 ,SPANI% 9/ITUTIONS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DE/ROY$ ! ID5TITY ( A SLIM BUT ABSOLUTE MAJORITY ( ! C\NTRY !Y CONQU]$4 ,DOESN'T A REF]5DUM1 !N1 SIMPLY REW>D ! /ATES ?AT >E MORE EFFECTIVE 9 C>RY+ \T G5OCIDE & =C$ 9TEGRATION1 LIKE ! ,U,S & ,FRANCE1 & PUNI% ! /ATES ?AT >E NEW AT ! GAME8 

,S9CE ,CATALANS >E ONLY FAC$ ) ! QUE/ION ( SELF-DET]M9ATION BECAUSE !Y W]E MILIT>ILY CONQU]$ BY ,SPA91 :O HAS ! RI<T TO TELL !M !IR FI<T = 9DEP5D5CE ISN'T VALID UNLESS !Y ATTA9 ! SYMBOLIC LEGITIMACY ( SOME MAJORITY VOTE8 

,& IF ,CATALUNYA W9S !IR 9DEP5D5CE AS A RESULT ( ! REF]5DUM1 :AT IS ! FIR/ ?+ !Y WILL DO8 ,E/ABLI% A ,CON/ITUTION ?AT MONOPOLIZES =CE & SOV]EIGNTY )9 !IR T]RITORY1 D5Y+ ! RI<T ( ANYONE TO SEC$E OR TO HOLD !IR [N REF]5DUMS )\T P]MISSION FROM ABOVE4 ,9 EFFECT1 ! GOOD CITIZ5S GO TO VOTE ON SELF-DET]M9ATION SO ?AT !IR *ILDR5 WILL NOT BE ABLE TO1 SO ?AT !Y !MSELVES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO A YE> LAT]4 ,?IS MODEL ?AT APPEALS TO ! SPIRIT ( DEMOCRACY & ! IDEA ( 9ALI5ABLE RI<TS SU* AS SELF-DET]M9ATION1 9 ! 5D1 IS EV5 MORE HYPOCRITICAL ?AN ! 0RULE ( LAW0 MODEL4 

,ANYONE :O /UDIES ! SUBJECT CAN SEE ?AT A VOTE IS PURE !AT]4 ,MO/ PEOPLE DON'T HOLD UNSW]V+1 IDEALI/IC CONVICTIONS4 ,! RESULT ( ANY VOTE WILL DEP5D PRIM>ILY ON ! NEWS COV]AGE ( ! PRIOR WEEK1 CONTEXTUAL FACTORS ?AT DET]M9E :I* DEMOGRAPHICS VOTE 9 HI<] NUMB]S1 & ! FRAM+ ( ! *OICE BE+ VOT$ ON4 ,IT IS COMMON KN[L$GE AMONG POLL/]S ?AT IF Y\ ASK ! SAME QUE/ION TWO DIFF]5T WAYS1 Y\ GET TWO DIFF]5T RESULTS4 ,& NO DEMOCRACY ANY:]E ALL[S PEOPLE TO DET]M9E :I* QUE/IONS >E ASK$1 & H[ !Y >E ASK$4 ,GIV+ A S+LE1 EASY-TO-MANIPULATE VOTE ! P[] TO CREATE A :OLE NEW /ATE & !RE=E A NEW WAY ! PUBLIC RELATES TO !IR GOV]NM5T DOESN'T MAKE S5SE UNLESS WE ACCEPT ?AT ! PURPOSE ( A VOTE ISN'T TO GIVE ! PUBLIC REAL 9PUT1 BUT TO CREATE A CONV9C+ SYMBOL ( PUBLIC 9PUT4 

,9 ! 5D1 ?AT'S ALL ?IS 9DEP5D5CE PROCESS IS3 SYMBOLISM1 OR*E/RAT$ = A SPECTACUL> P]=MANCE4 

,S9CE ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T KNEW ! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T W\LDN'T NEGOTIATE1 !Y CREAT$ A POLITICAL CONFLICT 9 :I* !Y W\LD LOOK LIKE ! GOOD GUYS & ! ,P,P W\LD LOOK LIKE ! BAD GUYS4 ,!Y DO NOT HAVE A MILIT>Y1 !RE=E !Y HAVE NO RULE ( LAW4 ,9/EAD1 !Y HAVE A GIANT /AGE ON :I* TO C>RY \T A SYMBOLIC P]=MANCE & W9 ! APPE>ANCE ( DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY1 9 ! HOPES ?AT WORLD LEAD]S--LEAD]S ) MILIT>IES & ! ECONOMIES ?AT ACCOMPANY !M--W\LD PRESSURE ,MADRID TO NEGOTIATE4 

,JX,SI PLANN$ ! REF]5DUM MA/]FULLY4 ,!Y MANAG$ TO PRODUCE BALLOT BOXES & PR9T MILLIONS ( BALLOTS CL&E/9ELY1 DESPITE ! MAJOR POLICE OP]ATIONS DESIGN$ TO SEIZE !M2 !Y CLON$ WEBSITES & KEPT POLL+ /ATIONS CONNECT$ TO ! 9T]NET DESPITE ALL-\T CYB]W>F>E ON ! P>T ( ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 ,BUT !RE WAS ONE LITTLE DETAIL !Y DIDN'T ORGANIZE4 ,! DEF5SE ( ! POLL+ /ATIONS4 ,?AT WAS C>RI$ \T SPONTANE\SLY1 BY HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( VOLUNTE]S :O OCCUPI$ POLLS TWO DAYS 9 ADVANCE & KEPT A /EADY S*$ULE ( ACTIVITIES GO+ TO DRAW MORE PEOPLE1 SO ! POLICE C\LDN'T PREV5T ! VOTE BY SIMPLY LOCK+ A FEW HUNDR$ BUILD+S4 ,!Y W\LD HAVE TO EVICT CR[DS ( ?\S&S1 ONE POLL+ /ATION AT A TIME4 

,! F>-LEFT ,C,U,P WAS HEAVILY 9VOLV$ 9 ! 0,DEF5SE ,COMMITTEES0 ?AT >OSE1 & EV5 ,CATALUNYA'S /RONG AN>*I/ MOVEM5T TURN$ \T1 QUEASY AB\T ELECTIONS BUT ) NO D\BTS ?AT !Y W\LD /& ON ! SIDE ( !IR NEI<BORS & GR&P>5TS AGA9/ ! COPS S5T TO BEAT !M4 ,?\< IT WAS TRAGICALLY POSITION$ 9 FAVOR ( AN ELITE PROJECT1 ?IS WAS /ILL ON SOME LEVEL A TRIUMPH ( SELF-ORGANIZATION4 

,& ! RUL+ P>TIES SAID NO?+ AB\T H[ !SE CR[DS MI<T PROTECT !MSELVES FROM POLICE VIOL5CE4 ,!RE WAS NOT A S+LE /RATEGY1 NOT EV5 A SUGGE/ION4 ,ONLY ! IMP]ATIVE ?AT !Y MU/ BE NONVIOL5T1 :I* IS TO SAY1 DEF5SELESS4 ,! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T DID NOT S5D !IR POLICE =CES--! ,MOSSOS D',ESQUADRA & ! ,GU>DIA ,URBANA--TO HELP DEF5D ! PEOPLE4 ,9 FACT1 ! ,CATALAN POLICE W]E SWORN TO ALSO OPPOSE ! REF]5DUM1 & ?\< !Y DID NOT BEAT ANYONE UP ?AT DAY 7= ONCE71 !Y CLOS$ ANY POLL+ /ATION ) FEW] ?AN #be PEOPLE GU>D+ IT4 ,!Y LEFT ! HEAVY LIFT+ = ! ,SPANI% POLICE4 

,& ?OSE POLICE DID :AT POLICE EV]Y:]E WILL DO TO CR[DS ?AT DON'T FOLL[ !IR ORD]S4 ,!Y BEAT ! %IT \T ( !M4 ,JU/ AS ! ,CATALAN POLITICIANS KNEW !Y W\LD1 JU/ AS !Y WANT$ !M TO DO4 ,BECAUSE !Y W]E C\NT+ ON ! IMAGES ( Y\NG & OLD1 BROK5 & BLOODI$1 TO FLOOD ?R\< ! 9T]NET & GIVE LEGITIMACY TO A REF]5DUM ?AT EV]YONE \TSIDE ,CATALUNYA RECOGNIZ$ AS ILLEGAL4 ,& ?AT'S EXACTLY :AT HAPP5$4 

,! TOP-D[N 5=CEM5T ( NONVIOL5CE WAS CRUCIAL4 ,IF ! ,CATALAN M$IA & POLITICIANS HAD NOT BE5 WORK+ OV]TIME TO IMPOSE NONVIOL5CE & O/RACIZE ANY DISSID5TS1 ! CR[DS W\LD HAVE DEF5D$ !MSELVES FROM POLICE VIOL5CE1 AS PEOPLE 9 ,CATALUNYA (T5 DO4 ,A WEEK BE=E ! REF]5DUM1 9 RESPONSE TO REPRESSIVE MEASURES1 PEOPLE HAD ALREADY />T$ GETT+ R[DY1 DAMAG+ POLICE VEHICLES & TRAPP+ ! ,SPANI% POLICE 9 A BUILD+ !Y HAD RAID$4 ,QUICKLY1 ! POLITICIANS DISC\RAG$ MASS MOBILIZATIONS = A FEW DAYS TO KEEP ! CR[DS FROM GETT+ \T ( CONTROL & TAK+ ?+S 9TO !IR [N H&S4 

,POPUL> UPRIS+S 9 ,B>CELONA & ELSE:]E 9 ,CATALUNYA HAVE OV]COME ! POLICE ON SEV]AL OCCASIONS OV] ! LA/ FEW YE>S1 & ! ,CATALAN RIOT POLICE >E BETT] TRA9$ ?AN ! ,SPANI% ONES4 ,IF ! LEAD]S ( ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T HAD NOT 5=C$ NONVIOL5CE1 ! CR[DS W\LD HAVE S5T ! ,POLICIA ,NACIONAL & ! ,GU>DIA ,CIVIL PACK+ ON ! #a/ ( ,OCTOB]4 ,IF PEOPLE HAD BE5 ALL[$ TO DEF5D !MSELVES1 ,CATALUNYA W\LD ALREADY HAVE WON ITS 9DEP5D5CE1 OR IT W\LD BE UND] MILIT>Y OCCUPATION & ,SPA9 W\LD HAVE ?R[N AWAY :ATEV] 9T]NATIONAL CR$IBILITY IT HAD LEFT4 

,9/EAD1 PEOPLE ) LOTS ( RES\RCES CIRCULAT$ ! RUMOR ?R\< SOCIAL M$IA ?AT ANYONE WE>+ A MASK WAS A ,SPANI% POLICE 9FILTRATOR TRY+ TO DISRUPT ! PROTE/S & GIVE ,CATALANS A BAD NAME4 ,MO/ PEOPLE ACCEPT$ ?IS ) A /RONG DEGREE ( D\BLE?9K4 ,A C\PLE PEOPLE :O /UCK TO ! LONG TRADITION ( MASK+ UP 9 ! /REETS GOT BEAT5 UP BY ! SUPPORT]S ( NONVIOL5CE4 ,OBVI\SLY1 ! NONVIOL5T CR[DS DIDN'T BELIEVE ! RUMOR1 BECAUSE !Y NEV] W\LD HAVE BEAT5 UP SOMEONE !Y ?\<T WAS ACTUALLY A COP2 9/EAD1 !Y DRANK 9 ! RUMOR AS AN 9CITATION TO COLLECTIVE P>ANOIA & AS AN 9VITATION TO M>G9ALIZE ANYONE :O DID NOT FIT 9 TO ?IS NEW CON/RUCTION ( 0! PEOPLE01 AN OV]:ELM+LY :ITE1 MIDDLE-CLASS CR[D HAPPILY FOLL[+ !IR LEAD]S4 

,! AU?ORIT>IAN IMPOSITION ( NONVIOL5CE WAS NECESS>Y = ! POLITICIANS TO MA9TA9 !IR CONTROL OV] ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T4 ,IF A NEW C\NTRY WAS WON 9 A POPUL> UPRIS+1 ! PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE = ?AT VICTORY W\LD FEEL !Y HAD A CLAIM 9 DECID+ H[ ! NEW C\NTRY WAS ORGANIZ$4 ,PEOPLE W\LD BE EMP[]$1 !Y W\LD HAVE A REC5T MEMORY ( !IR /R5G? & CAPABILITY1 & !Y W\LD BE WILL+ TO USE ?AT /R5G? AGA9 AS SOON AS ! NEW GOV]NM5T 9EVITABLY BEGAN 9/ITUT+ POLICIES ?AT FAVOR$ ! RI* & H>M$ EV]YBODY ELSE4 ,IT WAS VITAL = PEOPLE TO RECEIVE ! NEW C\NTRY AS SPECTATORS1 & NOT BUILD ! NEW C\NTRY !MSELVES AS P>T ( A PROCESS ( SELF-ORGANIZATION & SELF-DEF5SE4 

,:5 ! SOCIAL MOVEM5TS CALL$ A G5]AL /RIKE TWO DAYS AFT] ! REF]5DUM TO PROTE/ ! POLICE REPRESSION1 ! POLITICAL P>TIES TOOK IT OV]1 BREAK+ ! CONS5SUS ( ! ORGANIZ+ ASSEMBLIES :5EV] IT WAS CONV5I5T1 :ILE HOLD+ O!R GR\PS TO ! COMPROMISES !Y HAD CONC$$4 ,IT WAS EASY 5\< TO W9 CONS5SUS = A M9UTE ( SIL5CE :ILE PASS+ 9 FRONT ( ! ,GU>DIA ,CIVIL POLICE B>RACKS4 ,YET SY/EMATICALLY1 ACROSS ,CATALUNYA1 P>TY OP]ATIVES SUCCESSFULLY WORK+ ! CR[DS CREAT$ 5TIRELY SIL5T PROTE/S1 ) NO RAGE1 NO *ANTS1 NO 9DEP5D5T EXPRESSION ( IDEAS1 & NO POSSIBILITY = CONFRONTATION4 ,AFT] ! M9UTE ( SIL5CE 5D$1 ANYONE :O TRI$ *ANT+ AGA9 WAS VIOL5TLY SIL5C$ & EXCLUD$4 ,9 ?AT CLIMATE1 NO OP9IONS ( ANY K9D C\LD BE EXPRESS$1 & ! MASSIVE CR[DS W]E CONV]T$ 9TO M]E SYMBOLS M>*+ 9 L9E ) ! GOV]NM5T PROGRAM4 

,! TRADITION ( ! /RIKE AS A TOOL ( ! WORK+ CLASS WAS ALSO MANGL$4 ,! P>TIES DID !IR BE/ FROM PREV5T+ ANY PICKETS FROM =CIBLY %UTT+ D[N WORKPLACES1 :I* IS /&>D F>E DUR+ A /RIKE4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! WEAL?Y /RATA ( ,CATALAN SOCIETY VOLUNT>ILY %UT D[N !IR [N BUS9ESSES = ! DAY 9 A %[ ( NATIONALI/1 9T]CLASS UNITY4 

,CATALAN ELITES TURN$ ! ,CATALAN POLICE 9TO H]OES1 SIMPLY = NOT BEAT+ PEOPLE UP ONE DAY ( ! YE>1 & 9 ! ET]NAL PRES5T ( ! ,SPECTACLE1 MANY PEOPLE HAVE =GOTT5 ! TORTURE1 ! KILL+S1 ! MASS BEAT+S ( ! PA/ YE>S4 ,9 ! EV5T !Y W9 !IR 9DEP5D5CE1 ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T1 ITS POLICE1 & ITS O!R 9/ITUTIONS WILL HAVE OV]COME ! CRISIS ( LEGITIMACY & WIP$ CLEAN ! /A9 ( CORRUPTION1 AU/]ITY MEASURES1 & BRUTALITY4 ,!Y WILL HAVE CON/ITUT$ !MSELVES ?R\< AN ACT ( POPUL> P>TICIPATION1 & !RE=E BE MORE ABLE TO EXCLUDE1 M>G9ALIZE1 & REPRESS DISSID5TS4 

,?IS CAMPAIGN ( :ITE-WA%+ HAS BE5 SO NECESS>Y TO ,CATALAN ELITES PRECISELY BECAUSE ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T1 UNTIL #b#a#b1 WAS PRIM>ILY ! T]RITORY ( ANTI-CAPITALI/ SOCIAL MOVEM5TS :O IMAG9$ ?AT CREAT+ A NEW C\NTRY W\LD GIVE !M ! OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW K9D ( C\NTRY1 \TSIDE ( ,N,A,T,O & ! ,E,U1 ) SOCIALIZ$ H\S+ & M$ICAL C>E1 & HUMANE RESPONSES TO MANY ( ! O!R ISSUES ?AT PLAGUE CAPITALI/ ,CATALUNYA4 

,= ! FIR/ FEW YE>S ( ! 0,PROCESS01 ! MAJOR POLITICAL P>TIES SIMPLY DR[N$ \T ! F> ,LEFT4 ,) !IR SUP]IOR RES\RCES1 !Y *ANG$ ! MEAN+ ( 9DEP5D5CE OV]NI<T4 ,!SE W]E ! P>TIES ( AU/]ITY1 REPRES5T+ ! MIDDLE & UPP] CLASSES4 ,!IR RHETORIC C5T]$ >\ND ! IDEA ?AT AN 9DEP5D5T ,CATALUNYA W\LD BE RI*]1 A SORT ( ,M$IT]RANEAN ,SW$51 ONCE IT FRE$ ITSELF ( ! F9ANCIAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT ! ,SPANI% /ATE4 ,?OSE SAME POOR1 RURAL REGIONS ( ,SPA9 ?AT W]E ! MA9 S\RCE ( ,SPANI% IMMIGRATION TO ,CATALUNYA1 EV] A H&Y SCAPEGOAT = ! ,CATALAN B\RGEOISIE1 W]E N[ PORTRAY$ AS LAZY FREE-RID]S BR++ ,CATALUNYA D[N4 ,BUT AFT] ! #bae ELECTIONS1 !SE P>TIES NO LONG] HAD AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY1 :]EAS ! ,C,U,P HAD BECOME A MAJOR =CE4 ,?\< !Y /ILL POLL$ L[] ?AN MO/ ( ! O!R P>TIES1 ! ,C,U,P F\ND !MSELVES 9 ! POSITION ( K+-MAK]1 NECESS>Y = ANY GOV]NM5T COALITION TO BE VIABLE4 

,N[ ?AT ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T ONCE AGA9 HAD AN ANTI-CAPITALI/ CONT5T1 ! MAJOR P>TIES KNEW !Y W\LD HAVE TO R$\BLE !IR EF=TS TO SIL5CE ANY TALK ( BREAK+ ) NEOLIB]ALISM OR ! ,E,U1 & TO PREV5T ANY POPUL> REBELLIONS ?AT W\LD LEAD TO !M LOS+ CONTROL ( ! ,PROCESS4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! ACTIVI/ BASE WAS GALVANIZ$4 ,! ,C,U,P WAS ! P>TY ?AT HAD *AMPION$ FREE HEAL?C>E1 QUALITY $UCATION1 & H\S+ RI<TS1 ! P>TY ?AT MADE !IR DECISIONS 9 G5]AL ASSEMBLIES4 ,ONCE IT BECAME CLE> ?AT ! ,C,U,P1 & !RE=E ! ANTI-CAPITALI/ ,LEFT1 WAS 9DISP5SABLE TO ! 9DEP5D5CE PROCESS1 MANY MORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO ?9K ?AT AN 9DEP5D5T ,CATALUNYA MI<T BE QUALITATIVELY BETT] ?AN ,SPA94 ,! LA/ TWO YE>S HAVE GIV5 US AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE ?IS /RATEGY = SOCIAL *ANGE4 

,ALREADY1 ! ,C,U,P HAD BE5 9 P[] 9 A FEW SMALL MUNICIPALITIES1 & EV5 ON ?AT SCALE HAD DEMON/RAT$ ?AT !IR ATTA*M5T TO ANTI-CAPITALI/ PR9CIPLES WAS TRANSITORY4 ,9 ! ,CATALAN P>LIAM5T1 IT WAS NO DIFF]5T4 ,!Y ADMIRABLY /UCK TO !IR GUNS = A SYMBOLIC VICTORY1 =C+ \T ! PREVI\S LEAD] ( ,CONV]G5CIA = HIS CONNECTIONS TO CORRUPTION SC&ALS1 BUT GIV+ 9 & APPROV+ ! NEOLIB]AL BUDGET ( ! TWO MAJOR P>TIES4 

,& ?OSE P>TIES HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM 9 WALK+ BACK !IR AGREEM5TS ) ! ,C,U,P TIME & AGA94 ,AFT] ALL1 ! ONLY WEAPON ! ,C,U,P HAS IS TO )HOLD !IR VOTE & DEPRIVE ! RUL+ P>TIES ( A MAJORITY4 ,! ONE TIME !Y DID ?IS NOT TO JU/ W9 AN EXTRA R\ND ( NEGOTIATIONS BUT 9TRANSIG5TLY1 ! 5TIRETY ( ! M$IA UNIT$ 9 A VICI\S CAMPAIGN TO D5\NCE !M AS IRRESPONSIBLE RADICALS4 ,! ,C,U,P'S DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC /RUCTURES QUICKLY BROKE D[N UND] ! PRESSURE1 & !Y BROKE ) ! M&ATE ( !IR G5]AL ASSEMBLY TO F9D AN EXP$I5T SOLUTION4 

,EV5 AS ,I CONCLUDE ?IS >TICLE1 ! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T IS PREP>+ TO 9VOKE ,>TICLE #aee ( ! ,CON/ITUTION1 :I* ALL[S !M TO SUSP5D ! AUTONOMY ( ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T4 ,?IS W\LD ONLY DEEP5 ! CRISIS )9 ,CATALUNYA4 ,= ! MOM5T1 ITS IRON-FI/$ POLITICS HAVE RE5]GIZ$ ! ,P,P--ALL !IR CORRUPTION SC&ALS >E =GOTT5--& BR\<T ! EXTREME ,RI<T 9TO ! /REETS 9 LEVELS NOT SE5 9 DECADES4 ,IF ! ,P,P MANAGES TO HOLD ON TO P[]1 /EAL+ SUPPORT FROM ! C5T]-LEFT ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY1 ! RESULT WILL BE A R$UCTION ( ,CATALAN AUTONOMY & A DEEP5+ ( ! CRISIS ( DEMOCRACY4 ,IF !Y >E PUNI%$ = !IR BRUTALITY BY E>LY ELECTIONS & A SW+ TO ! LEFT--MO/ LIKELY A COALITION ( ,PODEMOS & ! ,SOCIALI/S BUILT >\ND ! PROPOSAL ( SOME CON/ITUTIONAL RE=M ALL[+ = MORE REGIONAL AUTONOMY & ! W9D[-DRESS+ ( A 0PLUR9ATIONAL /ATE0--!N ! CRISIS ( DEMOCRACY WILL BE L>GELY ALLEVIAT$ :ILE ! DREAM ( FULL 9DEP5D5CE WILL BE ?W>T$4 ,9 EI!R CASE1 ! ,PROCESS HAS ALREADY L$ TO EXTREME SOCIAL POL>IZATION1 NOT BETWE5 ABOVE & BEL[1 BUT QUITE ! OPPOSITE1 9 ?AT SC5>IO MO/ DREAD$ BY ANTI-CAPITALI/S1 BETWE5 DIFF]5T NATIONALITIES & POLITICAL ID5TITIES ?AT UNIFY RI* & POOR )9 MUTUALLY ANTAGONI/IC SETS ( BORD]S4 

,ONE HAS TO ASK3 :AT W]E ! ANTI-CAPITALI/S ( ! ,C,U,P ?9K+8 ,BY ADOPT+ ! TIR$ OLD /RATEGY ( SEEK+ *ANGE ?R\< ! 9/ITUTIONS1 TAK+ POLITICS S]I\SLY AS AN 9/RUM5T = ! BETT]M5T ( HUMANK9D1 !Y W]E MAK+ !MSELVES DEP5D5T ON ONE ( TWO =CES4 ,AFT] PROVOK+ A POLITICAL CRISIS ?R\< ! UNILAT]AL DRIVE = 9DEP5D5CE1 !Y W\LD ONLY BE ABLE TO OV]COME ,SPANI% REPRESSION BY RELY+ ON ! 9T]NATIONAL COMMUNITY1 NAMELY M$IATION BY O!R P[]S 9 ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION1 OR BY RELY+ ON A POPUL> UPRIS+4 

,! FIR/ OPTION1 RESCUE BY ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION1 W\LD OBVI\SLY MEAN SAY+ GOODBYE TO ANY ANTI-CAPITALI/ ELEM5T 9 !IR PROGRAM4 ,! ACTIVI/ ORGANIZATIONS MAK+ UP ! ,C,U,P HAVE LONG CAMPAIGN$ AGA9/ 9CLUSION 9 ! ,E,U1 :I* ALL TOLD WAS A BAD DEAL = WORK+ PEOPLE 9 ,SPA94 ,BUT ! CLOS] !Y'VE GOTT5 TO P[]1 ! MORE !Y HAVE HELD !IR TONGUE ON ?AT SCORE4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 VICTORY 9 ?IS SC5>IO W\LD LOOK ! SAME AS DEFEAT3 POLITICS AS USUAL1 & NEOLIB]ALISM TO BOOT1 BUT ?IS TIME BR\<T TO Y\ BY A MUNICIPALI/1 DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC P>TY4 

,! HI/ORICAL MODEL = ?IS SC5>IO1 ?AT ( ,SLOV5IA 9 #a#i#i-#a#i#i#a1 IS CLE>LY FLAW$4 ,EUROPEAN P[]S HAD AN 9T]E/ 9 BREAK+ UP ,YUGOSLAVIA & RECOGNIZ+ ,SLOV5IA BECAUSE !Y WANT$ ACCESS TO NEW M>KETS4 ,9 FACT1 AN>*I/S 9 EX-,YUGOSLAVIA L>GELY FEEL ?AT ! CIVIL W> WAS OR*E/RAT$ TO ALL[ ! DE/RUCTION ( ! C\NTRY'S EXT5SIVE SOCIAL 9FRA/RUCTURE--AU/]ITY ?R\< W>F>E--& TO ALL[ ,RUSSIA & ! ,E,U TO ABSORB ! FRAGM5T$ REMA9S4 ,BUT ,CATALUNYA IS ALREADY FULLY )9 ! ,E,U M>KET4 ,:Y W\LD ,EUROPEAN BANK]S GIVE A DAMN AB\T ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE8 ,!Y HAVE A S(T SPOT = M9ORITY LANGUAGES8 

,! SECOND OPTION MI<T HAVE BE5 A LITTLE MORE REALI/IC1 W9N+ 9DEP5D5CE ?R\< A POPUL> UPRIS+1 IF NOT = ! ,C,U,P'S ACQUIESC5CE TO ! IMPOSITION ( NONVIOL5CE4 ,AS ,I DEMON/RAT$ ) DOZ5S ( EXAMPLES 9 ,! ,FAILURE ( ,NONVIOL5CE1 NO POPUL> UPRIS+ S9CE ! 5D ( ! ,COLD ,W> HAS SUCCE$$ 9 TOPPL+ A GOV]NM5T :ILE BE+ /RICTLY NONVIOL5T1 UNLESS IT HAD ! SUPPORT ( ! ELITE4 ,9 ?IS CASE1 !Y W\LD NE$ ! SUPPORT ( ,E,U LEAD]S1 :I* BR+S US BACK TO ! FIR/ OPTION1 OR ,SPANI% LEAD]S1 :I* ISN'T GO+ TO HAPP54 ,NONVIOL5T MOVEM5TS HAVE =C$ NEW ELECTIONS ONLY :5 !Y HAD ! SUPPORT ( ! PRESS & SPREAD C\NTRYWIDE--OR AT LEA/ TO ! CAPITAL4 ,=C+ A NEW CON/ITUTION1 OR W9N+ ! 9DEP5D5CE ( A BREAKAWAY REGION1 IS WELL BEYOND ! CAPABILITIES ( NONVIOL5CE4 ,MO/ ( ! EXAMPLES 5%R9$ 9 HI/ORY1 SU* AS ! POPUL> MOVEM5T ?AT BR\<T D[N ! ,EA/ ,G]MAN GOV]NM5T1 W]E 9 FACT VIOL5T UPRIS+S ?AT ALSO HAD NONVIOL5T ELEM5TS4 

,BY BECOM+ A POLITICAL P>TY & GO+ 9TO GOV]NM5T1 ! ,CATALAN F> ,LEFT WILL+LY PUT ON ! /RAITJACKET ( NONVIOL5CE4 ,ONLY A MOVEM5T ?AT MA9TA9S ITS [N AUTONOMY CAN MAKE USE ( A FULL DIV]SITY ( TACTICS1 LIKE ! SQUATT+ MOVEM5T ?AT LAUN*$ A WEEKLONG REBELLION 9 ,MAY #b#a#d1 DEFEAT+ ! ,CATALAN POLICE1 MAK+ ,CITY ,HALL 7!N RUL$ BY ,CONV]G5CIA7 EAT HUMBLE PIE & LOSE ! SUBSEQU5T ELECTIONS1 & BLOCK+ ! EVICTION ( A POPUL> SOCIAL C5T]2 OR ! WAVE ( G5]AL /RIKES1 ORGANIZ$ L>GELY BY NON-9/ITUTIONAL NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES & AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ UNIONS1 ?AT AGA9 DEFEAT$ ! POLICE & TEMPOR>ILY %UT D[N ! MAJOR CITIES1 PUNI%+ MAJOR BUS9ESSES ?AT EXPLOIT$ !IR WORK]S2 OR ! DEC5TRALIZ$ ,P,A,H NETWORK1 ?AT HAS PREV5T$ ?\S&S ( MORTGAGE EVICTIONS & OP5$ UP 5TIRE AP>TM5T BLOCKS = SOCIAL H\S+ 7USUALLY /AY+ PEACEFUL BUT FULLY CAPABLE ( GETT+ R[DY IF ! POLICE CROSS ANY L9ES74 

,A POLITICAL P>TY1 ON ! O!R H&1 RELIES OV]:ELM+LY ON !IR IMAGE4 ,?IS MAKES !M FULLY DEP5D5T ON ! MASS M$IA1 & A F> ,LEFT POLITICAL P>TY IS ESPECIALLY VULN]ABLE4 ,:ILE F> ,RI<T P>TIES CONSI/5TLY GET FREE 9K1 ! M$IA D5Y ANY PROTAGONISM TO F> ,LEFT P>TIES EXCEPT :5 !Y REVEAL !MSELVES TO BE RESPONSIBLE NEGOTIATORS1 NAMELY BY SELL+ \T !IR BASE4 ,! ONLY VIOL5CE A POLITICAL P>TY IS ALL[$ TO USE IS ! VIOL5CE ( ! ,/ATE4 

,! F> ,LEFT CREAT$ ! ,C,U,P FOLL[+ ! /RATEGY ( 0POPUL> UNITY04 ,BUT1 AMID ALL ! O!R FIASCOES1 !Y HAV5'T A*IEV$ UNITY EI!R4 ,! P[] /RUGGLES TAK+ PLACE JU/ BEL[ ! SURFACE HAVE ?REAT5$ TO RIP ! ,C,U,P AP>T ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS1 & ! ACTIVI/ BASE IS BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY DIS5*ANT$4 ,NOR DOES ! ,C,U,P REPRES5T ! :OLE ( ! F> ,LEFT 9 ,CATALUNYA4 ,AS F> AS P>TIES GO1 !RE IS ALSO ,CATALUNYA ,SI ,QUE ES ,POT1 BASICALLY AN AMALGAM ( ,B>CELONA ,5 ,COMU & ,PODEMOS4 ,! ACTIVI/ BASE IS =M$ UP 9 L>GE P>T BY ! ,P,A,H1 :I*1 BE+ DISPROPORTIONATELY IMMIGRANT1 DOESN'T T5D TO FEEL /RONGLY AB\T ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE1 ?\< 9 MY EXP]I5CE !Y T5D TO BE SYMPA!TIC4 ,?IS S5TIM5T ALL[S ,C,S,Q,P TO SIT ON ! F5CE1 BUT IT DOESN'T EXPLA9 !IR AMBIGU\S PO/URE ?R\<\T ! ,PROCESS4 ,9 TRU?1 ! REAL REASON = ! DISUNITY1 & N[ BAD BLOOD1 BETWE5 ! ,C,U,P & ,C,S,Q,P IS POLITICS4 

,ON ! ONE H&1 ,B>CELONA ,5 ,COMU ONLY RULES ,CATALUNYA'S L>GE/ CITY 9 COALITION ) ! ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY1 & ?\< 9 ! PA/ ! ,SOCIALI/S HAVE FLIRT$ ) ! POSSIBILITY ( A CON/ITUTIONAL RE=M1 AS ! CRISIS CAME TO A HEAD !Y PLAC$ !MSELVES FIRMLY 9 ! 0RULE ( LAW0 CAMP1 APPROV+ ! ,P,P'S AGGRESSIVE MEASURES :ILE EX]T+ ONLY ! MILDE/ ( MOD]AT+ 9FLU5CES4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ,PODEMOS1 ON A ,SPA9-WIDE LEVEL1 REALIZES ?AT ! ,CATALAN CRISIS HAS ! UNIQUE POT5TIAL TO UNSEAT ! ,P,P & GIVE ! ,SPANI% GOV]NM5T TO ! ,LEFT4 ,FRU/RAT$ ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE IS ,PODEMOS' TICKET TO P[]4 ,BUT IF ! ,CATALANS W9 !IR 9DEP5D5CE QUICKLY1 :ILE ! ,P,P /ILL RULES1 :AT REMA9S ( ,SPA9 WILL ALMO/ C]TA9LY SW+ TO ! ,RI<T & ,PODEMOS WILL MISS !IR *ANCE4 ,YET AN ACTIVI/ POLITICAL P>TY BUILT ON ! CORPSE ( ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T SIMPLY CANNOT OPPOSE A POPUL> REF]5DUM1 :I* IS DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9C>NATE4 

,SO1 !Y'VE BE5 ACT+ LIKE TRUE POLITICIANS1 FROM ,PABLO ,IGLESIAS TO ,ADA ,COLAU1 SPEAK+ \T ( BO? SIDES ( !IR M\?S4 ,TO ME1 ( ALL ! POLITICIANS1 !Y HAVE BE5 ! MO/ REPREH5SIBLE1 EV5 SURPASS+ ! ,ORWELLIAN1 JACK-BOOT$ ,M>IANO ,RAJOY1 :O1 ?\< UNAPOLOGETICALLY AU?ORIT>IAN1 HAS /UCK TO HIS PR9CIPLES EV5 :5 IT MADE HIM LOOK BAD4 ,! ,PODEMOS FACTION HAVE SPOK5 9 FAVOR ( ! RI<T TO VOTE & ! RI<T TO SELF-DET]M9ATION1 BUT UNTIL ! #a#a? H\R !Y W]E CLAIM+ ?AT ! ,OCTOB] #a/ VOTE WAS A 0PROTE/0 RA!R ?AN ACKN[L$G+ ?AT1 ACCORD+ TO ,CATALAN LAW1 IT WAS A B9D+ REF]5DUM4 ,ADA ,COLAU CONSI/5TLY DRAGG$ H] FEET1 CREAT+ UNC]TA9TY UNTIL ! LA/ M9UTE AS TO :E!R IT W\LD BE POSSIBLE TO VOTE 9 ,B>CELONA4 ,& AFT] ! REF]5DUM1 ,PODEMOS DID NOT SUPPORT ! POSITION ?AT ! REF]5DUM CON/ITUT$ A M&ATE = 9DEP5D5CE1 RA!R SAY+ ?AT NEGOTIATIONS W]E 9 ORD]4 ,& !Y W]E ! ONES ) A PROPOSAL--CON/ITUTIONAL RE=M = GREAT] REGIONAL AUTONOMY--CAPABLE ( SATISFY+ A MAJORITY4 

,IF ,C,S,Q,P HAD HONOR$ !IR COMMITM5T TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY BY MOBILIZ+ !IR BASE TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! REF]5DUM1 VOT] TURN\T MI<T HAVE BE5 TOO HI< TO IGNORE4 ,NATURALLY1 ! ,C,U,P IS PRETTY DISGU/$ ) ,PODEMOS & ,5 ,COMU4 

,& :ILE ,I KN[ ?AT MANY ( !M >E S9C]E ANTI-CAPITALI/S1 ,I HAVE A H>D TIME SYMPA?IZ+4 ,:AT DID !Y EXPECT8 ,! 9/ITUTIONAL PA? ( *ANGE HAS BE5 ATTEMPT$ BE=E--MANY TIMES--& ! RESULTS HAVE ALWAYS BE5 SIMIL>4 ,IT IS1 SIMPLY PUT1 NEI!R PRAGMATIC NOR REALI/IC4 ,ITS POPUL>ITY1 ,I ?9K1 IS LITTLE MORE ?AN ! RESULT ( ! IMPATI5CE ( SOME1 ! LACK ( HI/ORY & IMAG9ATION ( O!RS1 & ! HUNG] = P[] ( ?OSE :O LEAD ! =M] T[>DS !IR DELUSIONAL DE/9ATION4 

,9 CONTRA/1 HORIZONTAL1 DEC5TRALIZ$1 SELF-ORGANIZ+ MOVEM5TS = REVOLUTION>Y *ANGE HAVE NEV] LO/ UPON MEET+ !IR [N CRIT]IA = SUCCESS--!Y'VE NEV] BE5 DEFEAT$ BY !IR [N IRREALISM4 ,S9CE !Y FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE BEYOND COMP>E1 /RIV+ = A DEEP] K9D ( FRE$OM & WELL-BE+1 AGA9/ ! UNWAV]+ REPRESSION ( ! ,/ATE & ! CONNIVANCE ( RE=MI/ FACTIONS1 SU* MOVEM5TS HAVE R>ELY >RIV$ AT ! ?RE%OLD ( VICTORY1 IT'S TRUE4 ,BUT ONCE !RE1 !Y HAVE ONLY BE5 DISLODG$ BY P[]-HUNGRY ELEM5TS ON ! ,LEFT4 

,9 ,CATALUNYA1 \TSIDE ! SODIUM GL>E ( ! ,SPECTACLE1 !RE IS ANO!R K9D ( 9DEP5D5CE4 ,IT IS BAS$ ON FOOD SOV]EIGNTY1 FREE ACCESS TO H\S+ & ALT]NATIVE M$IC9E1 ! DEF5SE ( ALL LANGUAGES & CULTURES AGA9/ COMM]CIAL EXPLOITATION OR /ATE HOMOG5IZATION1 FRE$OM ( MOVEM5T & SOLID>ITY ACROSS BORD]S4 ,?IS 9DEP5D5CE IS BE+ CON/RUCT$ 9 A L>GE NETWORK ( SQUATT$ SOCIAL C5T]S1 ANTI-CAPITALI/ CL9ICS & PR9T %OPS1 FREE S*OOLS1 LIB]AT$ H\S+1 ECOLOGICAL F>MS & G>D5S4 ,IT WON'T W9 9 A FIVE YE> PROCESS1 NOR WILL IT DISAPPE> AFT] ELECTIONS2 9 FACT IT'S BE5 BUILD+ UP = DECADES & WILL CONT9UE DO+ SO = DECADES MORE4 ,& IT'S GO+ SOME:]E REAL4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b1 #bba 3 ,CATALAN ,9DEP5D5CE & ! ,CRISIS ( ,DEMOCRACY -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,CATALAN ,9DEP5D5CE & ! ,CRISIS ( ,DEMOCRACY -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/