I believe that storytelling is important because it helps build connections between different cultures and people, allowing us to build new bonds with people that we may otherwise consider to be totally alien to us. By being able to narrate experiences in a creative and lucid manner, we help raise awareness of certain issues that affect our society today, as well as the people that are affected by them.
At Brown, I recently have worked on a podcast that explored the current political state of Kashmir, as well as the Indian government's influence in the region. By interviewing journalists, professors, and political pundits I was able to lead a team of 4 other students in creating a podcast that reported all of the narratives and perspectives on the crisis in a balanced manner. In the future, I look forward to exploring political events, and the socioeconomic impacts they have, through podcasts, journalism, or documentary/film.
I have been passionate about writing and journalism for many years. Having lived and studied in the UK, Spain, and Russia, I have pursued a series of internships in journalism with different international publications. During my internship in film journalism, I prepared and published interviews with Mark Ruffalo and with Rian Johnson to promote the releases of Thor: Ragnarok and Star Wars: The Last Jedi respectively. In addition, I researched film distribution at the New York Film Festival, interviewing producer Damon Cardasis and film critic James Kleinmann. I have also collaborated with journalists at The Guardian and at Vedomosti/Moscow Times Group to prepare interviews, research and publish content, focusing on global political events. At Brown, I have produced podcasts for The Brown University Political Radio and written for The Brown Daily Herald, and both roles have given me experience with finding sources, creating content, and working with editing tools. I am looking forward to collaborating with The Creative Process on interviews with Brown faculty and other notable thinkers in Rhode Island, producing content and assisting with other activities such as curation, events organization and educational programs.
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Conflict in Catalonia: What do Young People See?
by Michael S. Seoane
On the 28th October 2017, the Spanish central government dissolved Catalonia’s parliament, following the region’s official declaration of independence. When reporting on events in Catalonia, the media has focused on the politicians and crowds on the streets – little has been said about the opinions of the younger demographic, who will have to live with the repercussions of today’s decisions. However, when polled for this article, most young adults in three schools across Spain argued against Catalonian separation. While many confirmed the right to self-determination, most hoped for a peaceful outcome in which Catalonia remains part of Spain.
“Catalonia should not be granted independence. The country has not had a fair official vote to be able to know the people’s true decision,” said Maria Salas, a student from Barcelona. In interviews of 16 and 17-year-olds in November of 2017, most young adults argued against Catalan separation, with many suggesting that there is a ‘silent’ majority that actually wants to remain within Spain. “The best thing would be to hold a legal referendum on the issue to see what Catalans truly think, and then analyze the situation from there,” she added.
However, the survey found that there was also a significant group that argued for self-determination and felt that Catalonia should be allowed to decide the best course of action for itself. “I think the decision should be left up to the Catalan people, as long as this decision is achieved through a vote or dialogue,” argued Pedro Martinez, a 16-year-old from Galicia. “Personally, I would like to see Catalonia remain a part of Spain, but Catalonia’s citizens need to decide for themselves. I am not Catalan, and I am not living this situation the way they are, but I know that if there are so many people that want to separate, they must have good reasons for it. They may be wrong, but it is not our place to force them to stay if they are desperate to leave,” he said.
Tensions escalated on the 1st of October last year, when Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia’s pro-separatist leader, held an independence referendum later ruled illegal by Spain’s courts. Despite a police crackdown to suppress voters, the referendum yielded a 43% turnout, with nearly 90% of people backing Catalonia’s separation from Spain.
“I think that Spain handled the whole independence issue in the worst way possible. Especially if you look at the occurrences on October 1st after the referendum. The violence of the police force was absolutely unnecessary and only pushed many people onto the pro-independence side,” claimed a 17-year-old from Barcelona.
“Ending the struggle at this point is very complicated. In general, both sides should seek a dialogue in a legal, reasonable way, trying to find a solution that would benefit everyone while still respecting the constitution,” argued Jose Garcia, one of the many high-school students who appealed for more dialogue and diplomacy to end divisions. “A referendum should be held to see just how many people actually want to stay. Whatever happens, we shouldn’t force people to be part of something that they don’t want to be,” he continued.
On the other hand, some young people polled claimed that the Spanish government’s use of force was justifiable, given the illegality of the referendum earlier in October. “The central government hasn’t repressed Catalonia, it has only acted in a way to stop an act of rebellion on behalf of the Generalitat [the Catalan Parliament],” said 17-year-old Andrea Fernandez from Madrid. “Rajoy acted according to the constitution and tried to prevent illegal elections, condemning the Catalan government for choosing an illegal path to independence. Anyone who acts against the law should be prosecuted and suffer the consequences.”
Following the dissolution of the Catalonian parliament by Spain’s central government on the 28th October, the Generalitat’s ministers, charged with attempting to incite rebellion, fled to Belgium to avoid domestic prosecution. Upon returning to Spain for questioning, eight former Catalonian government members were detained. However, Mr. Puigdemont has so far not returned to Spain, instead helping manage the “Together for Catalonia” party from Brussels.
With other European nations pushing for separation in recent years, Catalonia’s drive for sovereignty has at times been compared with that of Scotland and Brexit. “I think that these three cases are different. In the case of Scotland and Britain, these are already independent nations and it was a matter of separating from a union. It was down to ideological differences and the perceived economic decline of the EU respectively. In Catalonia’s case, they think they are not being treated in the best way possible,” suggested Javier Hernandez, a 17-year-old from Madrid.
Some young adults who took part in the survey also referenced Catalonia’s status in 20th century Spain to justify a pro-independence movement there. “Historically, Catalans feel they belong to a different culture and tradition to the rest of Spain – enough so that they should become a separate country,” claimed one student from Northern Spain. “I think the reason why these areas want to secede is to be able to create their own separate communities, which could be comprised of their own language, culture, and laws. In Catalonia, many people want to secede to gain more political freedoms and because they feel it will be better economically and socially to split from Spain,” she added.
In response to the illegal referendum held in October and the subsequent dissolution of the Catalonian parliament, Spain’s central government in Madrid organized new regional parliamentary elections on the 21st December 2017. These yielded an overall separatist majority within the new Catalonian parliament. However, an anti-independence party, Ciudadanos, attained the largest share of votes by a single party with over 25% of the vote. At present, parties that back Catalonian separation from Spain such as “Together for Catalonia” and “Popular Unity” are considering a coalition but are struggling to elect a representative that would become President of the parliament, with primary candidate, Mr. Puigdemont, still in Belgium under self-imposed exile.
Seismic events are taking place across Europe, with nationalism and separatism on the rise across the continent. In the case of Catalonian independence, the younger demographic generally consider secession an undesirable outcome for both sides. The majority see diplomacy and dialogue, not violence, as the only solution to the current conflict. With the political future of the Generalitat uncertain, and the possibility of a referendum ‘re-do’ in the coming months, it remains to be seen if young people’s voices will be heard.
I would like to thank Colegio Obradoiro (La Coruña), the American School of Barcelona, CEU Monteprincipe (Madrid), and the 32 students that provided comments. Please note that any names in the article above are fictitious.
