Catalan ‘nation-building’ and the Transition to Democracy in Spain
Klaus-Jürgen Nagel
Primordialist nationalists would perhaps deny that nations have to be built; for them, may existed forever, in the form of ethnic groups. Some Catalan trace their national origin back Guifre' el Pelos, Count Barcelona who achieved a sort independence from its feudal lord, Carolingian emperor. Instead, we take constructivist point view and argue are essentially modern phenomenon built just as states built. But cannot nation building only started after Franco. Catalonia's autonomy had already been recognised by Spanish republic when Franco other generals rebelled against legitimate government. One Franco's first measures was abolish persecute all sorts nationalism. Therefore, dictatorship interrupted history. The Castilian language, which co-official before, again imposed on population alternative ('speak christian', 'speak language Empire'), prohibited some contexts, course outlawed schools. symbols (flag, anthem etc.) were forbidden or reduced category folklore (sardana, dance). last president autonomous Catalonia, Llufs Companys, executed. institutions dissolved. In fifties sixties, massive immigration Southern Spain encouraged, industrial cities took more 'Spanish' outlook. 1 bourgeoisie, led this most part state, defended 'light' forms regionalism, lost power. State controlled industries like SEAT arrived, finally, transnational
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