European Caucus Topic B: Separatist movements in Europe

Chair: Anna Carolina Vailatti,

Guilherme Maranhão

INDEX

Background Information......................................... 3

Timeline...................................................................7

Key Words............................................................ 13

Guiding Questions.................................................14

Further Research...................................................15

2

Background The word independence, originated in 1630, is defined as freedom from the control,

influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.Independence is a condition of anation,country, or

state in which its residents and population, exercise self­government, and usually sovereignty,

over the territory. Throughout history there were various events that changed the political

geography of Europe, going from the Roman expansion conflicts up to the two world wars.

These conflicts have created new nations and decimated old ones, but there are very few who

live until nowadays. These nations were forgotten over the years and are not officially formed, as

well as their citizens continue to strive for their nationality. But it is not always the best option

for a people to acquire independence, when there are numerous factors that are going to be

affected by such a change in status, such as economic, social and political factors. To make a

nation politically and economically independent is a delicate matter, and if the nation cannot

sustain itself it will face uncounted consequences. National independence is a big step towards

freedom, however it is one step that needs to be treated carefully. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said,

“true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence”. Europe is

currently facing this issue, where there are various

groups of people seeking their freedom to become

independent nations. It is extremely important to watch

closely the ramifications that could come from one of

those groups indeed become an independent nation.

Scotland

The Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of

England were established as independent countries

during the Middle Ages. After fighting a series of wars

during the 14th century, the two monarchies entered a

personal union in 1603. Scotland and Englandunited to

form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

3

On November 2013, Scotland's parliament was permitted to have a referendum in order

to decide whether Scotland would become an independent country or not. The referendum was

granted by the United Kingdom government and only asked for the majority of the population to

vote in favor of the independency of Scotland. The population was divided into two different

groups, where those who were in favor of the independence participated in the 'Yes Scotland',

and those who wanted to maintain the union participated in 'Better Together' group.

There were certain criteria to be followed regarding the people who could vote in favor or

against the referendum. Those criteria were:

British citizens who were resident in Scotland;

Citizens of other Commonwealth countries who were resident in Scotland;

Citizens of other European Union countries who were resident in Scotland;

Members of the House of Lords who were resident in Scotland;

Service/Crown personnel serving in the UK or overseas in the British Armed Forces or

with Her Majesty's Government who were registered to vote in Scotland.

The normal voting age was reduced from 18 to 16 for the referendum, as it was SNP

(Scottish National Party) policy to reduce the voting age for all elections in Scotland.

Catalonia

The area of Catalonia first

emerged as a distinct nation with the

rise of the County of Barcelona in the

11th century. In the 12th century, the

county was brought under the same

royal rule as the kingdom of Aragon,

prominent to become a major

medieval sea power. Catalonia has

been part of Spain since the beginning of the 15th century, when King Ferdinand of Aragon and

Queen Isabella of Castile married and united their nations into one single country.

4

Since then, the region of Catalonia was tightly integrated into the Spanish region, but

during the 19th century, catalan citizens started questioning their sense of identity and urging

their independence from the Spanish state. Catalonians began a campaign for political autonomy,

the separation from Spain and the formation of a independent Country. The move also supported

the re­usage of the former language used by Catalonia, the Catalan, as a form to bolster the

cultural aspect of the region.

When Spain became a

republic in 1931, Catalonia was

soon given broad political

autonomy. During the Spanish Civil

War, Catalonia was a key

Republican stronghold, but with the

fall of Barcelona to Gen Francisco

Franco's right­wing forces in 1939

the autonomy was revoked.

Venice

Venice has only been a part of Italy for 150

years, but its civilization originated over a thousand

years ago. According to certain political and

geographical studies, Venice was founded at 421 ACE,

where a group of Celtic natives lived along the coast of

what nowadays is northeast Italy.

The Venetian Independence Referendum was an

unofficial, online and privately organized poll held

among the residents of Veneto. The vote was known as

the “Digital Plebiscite”, and it was promoted by

plebiscite.eu, a Venetian nationalist organization led by

Gianluca Busato. According to the website that held the

5

voting, 2.36 million Venetians (63.2% of eligible voters) participated in the online referendum.

The grand majority of 89.1% of them voted in favor for the independence of Venice.

Gianluca Busato is a Venetian entrepreneur and politician known as the main organiser of

the Venetian Independence referendum. He was elected for the municipal councillor in Casier, a

town in the province of Treviso, in north­eastern Italy. After being expelled from the party in

1997, he founded the Padanian Independentist Movement. In 2007 he created and developed the

separatist Venetian National Party (PNV), and served as its secretary from 2008 to 2010.

Venice’s Independence Referendum was inspired by Scotland’s separatist ambitions It

was proposed the formation of ‘Repubblica Veneta’, where it would include the five million

inhabitants of the Veneto region and could later expand to include parts of Lombardy, Trentino

and Friuli­Venezia Giulia.

The vote was known as the “Digital Plebiscite”, and it was promoted by the website

‘plebiscite.eu’, a Venetian independent nationalist organization led by Gianluca Busato.

According to the website that held the voting, 2.36 million Venetians (63.2% of eligible voters)

participated in the online referendum. The grand majority of 89.1% of them voted in favor for

the independence of Venice.

6

Timeline

Catalonia

9th century ­ County of Barcelona is formed along with several other counties as a result of

efforts by Charlemagne to establish a buffer zone between his Frankish Empire and

Muslim­ruled Spain.

1023­76 ­ Under Ramon Berenguer I, the county of Barcelona acquires a dominant position in

the area.

1131­1162 ­ Reign of Ramon Berenguer IV, whose marriage to Queen Petronilla of Aragon

results in the county's dynastic union with the Kingdom of Aragon. Although part of the Crown

of Aragon, Catalonia keeps its own traditional rights and parliament, the Corts catalanes.

14th­15th cents ­ Aragon acquires the kingdoms of Sardinia, Sicily and Naples, becoming a

major Mediterranean maritime empire as a result.

1469 ­ Ferdinand I of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile marry, creating a dynastic union of

their kingdoms and laying the foundations of the Kingdom of Spain.

1492 ­ Discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus starts the creation of Spain's

overseas empire, the shift of commercial activity from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and the

decline of Catalonia's economic and political importance.

1640­52 ­ The Reapers' War ­ Catalonia revolts against the taxation policies of Philip IV of

Spain, is briefly declared a republic under French protection before being reoccupied by Spanish

troops.

1705­14 ­ War of the Spanish Succession. Catalonia's support for rival claimant to the Spanish

throne, Archduke Charles of Austria, of the House of Habsburg, against King Philip V, from the

House of Bourbon, results in the suppression of its parliament and traditional liberties upon the

latter's victory.

1716 ­ The Nueva Planta decree dismantles the separate Catalan legal system, brings Catalonia

under direct rule from Madrid and abolishes the administrative use of the Catalan language.

1812­13 ­ Napoleon briefly annexes Catalonia to France, before French troops withdraw from

Barcelona under an armistice signed with the Duke of Wellington.

7

1808­33 ­ Catalonia becomes the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the First Carlist War

between the liberal supporters of Queen Isabella II and the absolutist supporters of her uncle and

rival, the Infante Carlos.

19th cent ­ Catalonia is at the forefront of industrialisation in Spain and experiences a cultural

renaissance; start of a movement to revive Catalan culture and language, leading to the rise of

Catalan nationalism.

1901 ­ Formation of the Catalan nationalist Regionalist League.

1913 ­ The four provinces of Catalonia are given limited joint self­government in the

Commonwealth of Catalonia under the leadership of Enric Prat de la Riba.

1925 ­ The Commonwealth is suppressed during the dictatorship of Spanish Prime Minister

Miguel Primo de Rivera.

1931 ­ Spain becomes a republic; an autonomous Catalan regional government, the Generalitat,

is created under the leadership of the Revolutionary Left of Catalonia.

1936 ­ Insurrection of Spanish nationalist troops led by Gen Francisco Franco sparks the Spanish

Civil War. Catalonia remains loyal to the Republic, with both the Generalitat's regular forces and

popular militias fighting on its side.

1938 ­ English author George Orwell publishes Homage to Catalonia, a memoir of his time

fighting with left­wing Republican forces in the region.

1938­9 ­ Franco's forces overrun Catalonia, paving the way for the collapse of Republican

resistance elsewhere in Spain.

1939­75 ­ Franco dictatorship; suppression of political opposition as well as Catalan autonomy,

language and culture. Thousands of Catalan activists are executed or go into exile.

1960s ­ Catalonia benefits from the start of mass tourism in coastal Spain and increasing

industrialisation. Barcelona attracts large numbers of migrants from other Spanish regions.

1979 ­ Catalonia given a statute of autonomy and recognised as a "nationality". Catalan become

the joint official language of Catalonia with Spanish.

2013 January ­ Catalonia's regional parliament approves a "declaration of sovereignty" aimed at

paving the way for a referendum on independence from Spain in 2014.

8

2014 March ­ Spain's constitutional court rules that a planned referendum in November on

Catalonia's independence is unconstitutional.

2014 April ­ Spanish parliament rejects proposal by Catalonia's regional assembly to hold a

referendum on independence in November.

2014 September ­ Regional President Artur Mas signs a decree calling for a non­binding

referendum on independence to take place in November. Spain's constitutional court suspends

the plans, saying it needs time to consider the vote's constitutionality.

2014 October ­ Regional President Artur Mas insists a non­binding referendum on independence

for the region in November will go ahead, but under a different legal framework, after the

original plan was ruled unconstitutional.

2014 November ­ More than 80% of those taking part in a non­binding informal vote on

separation from Spain opt for independence. About two million out of 5.4 million eligible voters

cast ballots.

2015 January ­ Regional President Artur Mas calls new regional elections for 27 September to

gauge support for a possible declaration of independence.

Venice

421 ­ Venice is founded, according to legend, with the establishment of a trading­post on the

islands of the Rialto and a church dedicated to St. James by three consuls from Padua.

466 – Representatives of the island communities meet in Grado to work out a rudimentary

system of self­government

568 – Lombard invasion of Italy under King Alboin. Great numbers of refugees flee to the

lagoons

948 ­ With the weakening of Byzantium, Venice began to see Ragusa as a rival who needed to be

brought under her control, but the attempt to conquer the city failed.

1110 ­ Ordelafo Faliero personally commands a Venetian fleet of 100 ships to assist Baldwin I of

Jerusalem in capturing the city of Sidon

9

1747 ­ Venice’s land was given to the Republic of Austria

1848 ­ The population of Venice rebelled against the Austrian government and established the

Republic of San Marco

2011 ­ 50% of the population of Venice supports the independence of Veneto, according to

governmental research

2014­ Duration of the Venetian Independence Referendum voting

2014­ P2013 proclaims Veneto's independence from Italy in Treviso on the night of 21 March.

Scotland

84 ­ Romans defeat Caledonians at the Battle of Mons Graupius.

547 ­ Angles capture the Northumbrian fortress at Bamburgh and found the kingdom of Bernicia.

575 ­ Western Scotland is granted independence from the Irish Dalriada, after a convention at

Drumceatt near Derry.

604 ­ Formation of the kingdom of Northumbria.

638 ­ Northumbrians capture Edinburgh from Gododdin.

685 ­ Pictish King Bruide mac Bili defeats Ecgfrith of Northumbria at the Battle of Dun

Nechtain, halting the northern expansion of Northumbria.

843 ­ Death of Kenneth mac Alpin, King of the Picts, forming the union between Picts and Scots

nations

890 ­ Exodus of the Strathclyde Britons to Gwynedd (in Wales).

937 ­ Battle of Brunanburh English victory in 937 by the army of Æthelstan

1058 ­ After defeating Mac Bethad and Lulach, Máel Coluim III is proclaimed king.

1124 ­ David I becomes king and introduces the feudal system of landholding to much of

Scotland.

1174 ­ William I signs the Treaty of Falaise in which he swears allegiance to Henry II of

England.

1263 ­ Scots defeat Norwegians at Largs.

1266 ­ Norway cedes the Western Isles to Scotland in the Treaty of Perth.

10

1297 ­ Andrew de Moravia and William Wallace lead the Scots to victory over England at

Stirling Bridge.

1305 ­ Wallace is executed in London.

1320 ­ Nobles assert Scottish independence in the Declaration of Arbroath.

1328 ­ Treaty of Northampton. England recognises Scottish independence.

1402 ­ English defeat Scots in the Battle of Nesbit Moor and the Battle of Humbleton Hill.

1468 ­ Denmark cedes Orkney and Shetland to Scotland.

1513 ­ James IV and thousands of Scots are killed at Flodden.

1559 ­ John Knox returns to Scotland from Geneva to promote Calvinism.

1592 ­ James VI enacts the "Golden Act" recognising the power of Presbyterianism within the

Scottish church.

1603 ­ The Union of the Crowns: James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England.

1642 to 1646 ­ First British civil war.

1648 ­ Second British Civil War.

1649 ­ Third British Civil War.

1650 ­ Southern Scotland is occupied by the English Commonwealth's New Model Army

following Scottish defeats at the Battle of Dunbar and the Battle of Hamilton

1662 ­ The Scottish parliament passes the Act of indemnity and oblivion. It was a general pardon

for most types of crime that may have been committed by Scots, between 1 January 1637 and

before 1 September 1660.

1707 ­ The Union of the Parliaments: the Acts of Union are passed by both the Scottish and

English parliaments.

1817 ­ The Scotsman newspaper first published.

1885 ­ Creation of the Scottish Office and the post of Secretary for Scotland, later Secretary of

State for Scotland.

1934 ­ Scottish National Party founded.

1999 ­ A Scottish Parliament is elected for the first time in 272 years. Donald Dewar of the

Scottish Labour Party elected as First Minister and forms Scottish Executive in coalition with the

Scottish Liberal Democrats.

11

2007 ­ The Scottish National Party becomes the largest party in the Scottish Parliament and

forms a minority government.

2013 ­ The Scottish government announces that the referendum would be held on September

2014 ­ Scottish independence referendum voting, in order to decide whether Scotland would

gain its independence from the United Kingdom.

12

Key Words

Separatism ­ advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or

gender separation from the larger group. Some groups refer to their organizing as independence,

self­determination, partition or decolonization movements instead of, or in addition to,

autonomist, and separatist or secession movements.

Sovereignty ­ political theory, is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some

polity. In layman's terms, it means a state or a governing body has the full right and power to

govern itself without any interference from outside sources or bodies.

Occupation ­ acquisition of territory that belongs to no state, or is being disputed by several

countries

Prescription ­ effective control of territory of another acquiescing state.

Operations of nature ­ acquisition of territory through natural processes like river accretion or

natural disasters

House of Lords ­ The upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

13

Guiding Questions

What are the positive and negative aspects of

independence/separatist movements across the European Union?

What factors are going to be affected if a nation becomes

independent?

Under what circumstances can one country invade another?

Should all countries become independent? How is one to

determine when to assign independence? How does the principle

of self-determination play out in the context of a pragmatic

approach to these issues?

Should the independent nations become part of the EU?

If human rights are being violated, can one country interfere in

another country’s affairs?

14

Further Research

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/scottish­independence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_independence_referendum,_2014

http://www.bbc.com/news/world­europe­11283616

http://www.rt.com/news/venice­votes­independence­italy­585/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article­2586531/Venice­votes­split­Italy­89­citys­residents­opt

­form­new­independent­state.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world­europe­20345073

15