Thomas Harrington joins Scott to discuss his latest article on Catalonia for Antiwar.com “Last Sunday In Catalonia: Pirates 1, The Invincible Armada 0.” Harrington breaks down the history of Catalonia, how we’ve gotten to where we are today, and what the vote means for Catalonia and Spain. Harrington also explains who stands to gain from Catalonian independence and who doesn’t. Ultimately, despite the brewing conflict, Harrington has some optimism that negotiation and a peaceful settlement will still be the outcome.
Thomas Harrington is professor of Hispanic Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and the author of Public Intellectuals and Nation Building in the Iberian Peninsula, 1900–1925: The Alchemy of Identity.
Discussed on the show:
- “Melee in Catalonia as Spanish police violently attack voters, injuring at least 760 civilians” (New York Daily News)
- “Catalonia Government Declares Overwhelming Vote for Independence” (New York Times)
- Castile
- Kingdom of Aragon
- “Catalonia’s Independence Referendum: What’s at Stake?” (New York Times)
- Isabella I of Castile
- “Spain Through Orwell’s Eyes” (Jacobin Magazine)
- José María Aznar
- “Why Should Catalonia Not be Free?” by Matt Purple (American Conservative Magazine)
- “Catalonia vote: Pro-independence parties win elections” (BBC)
- “Catalonia’s Leader Seeks Talks in Standoff With Spain” (New York Times)
- “King of Spain accuses Catalan leaders of ‘unacceptable disloyalty'” (CNN)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download