This volume examines the cultural policy of the Catalan Autonomous Government under the leadership of Jordi Pujol and his party, Convergencia I Unio, who were in power from the post-Franco transitional period through Pujol s retirement in 2003. Examining issues of national identity and cultural nationalism in the context of globalization, multiculturalism, and the commodifications of culture, this book looks at how Pujol s government tackled these challenges. In addition, Kathryn Crameri analyzes the impact of devolved government on the promotion and preservation of minority cultures and the...

"'Goodbye, Spain?'" discusses the question of Catalan independence and is fully up-to-date with respect to the most recent elections. Support for independence in the autonomous community of Catalonia has risen significantly since 2005. Opinion polls confirm that the idea of holding a legally binding referendum on independence is now supported by 80 percent of Catalans. Many commentators on nationalism in Western Europe had come to the conclusion that there was no serious threat to the established nation-states from secessionism within their borders. Causes for these striking changes in public...

'Goodbye, Spain?' discusses the question of Catalan independence and is fully up-to-date with respect to the most recent elections. Support for independence in the autonomous community of Catalonia has risen significantly since 2005. Opinion polls confirm that the idea of holding a legally binding referendum on independence is now supported by 80 percent of Catalans. Many commentators on nationalism in Western Europe had come to the conclusion that there was no serious threat to the established nation-states from secessionism within their borders. Causes for these striking changes in...