Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain

Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by chrisbrowning on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:02AM (#15568327)

For better or for worse, there will be no independent Catalonia in the foreseeable future. About 40-50% of Catalans don't support this. The EU doesn't support this, no Western nation supports this (save maybe Russia if you consider them Western -- and even their position is unclear). Furthermore, Spain won't allow it, and they're the main actor in a position to do something about it.

Even if Catalonia somehow manages to enforce its declaration, the economic consequences will be so devastating that they will reverse course in due time.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by thriftwy on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:17AM (#15568501)

I can't name a single secessionist movement that got distracted by economy.

If anything, economic troubles reinforce the determination.

Once people take independence as a question of pride, they're extremelly reluctant of considering selling their independence for money.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by chrisbrowning on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:44AM (#15568831)

There have also been few successful secessionist movements that weren't backed by force of arms.

Anyway, I think the calculus is unique in this case. We are already seeing major companies move their headquarters out of Catalonia. Catalonia's independence would mean disruption of access to EU common market benefits and Schengen. Also they couldn't stop smaller provinces from voting to rejoin Spain.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by thriftwy on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:57AM (#15568986)

Local militia is often sufficient after you manage to anger locals.

Not sufficient to win maybe, but definitely to mandate some sort of peacekeepers.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by pbhjpbhj on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:13AM (#15568463)

Pardon my ignorance, but why would Russia support Catalan independence?

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by chrisbrowning on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:30AM (#15568663)

They see it as "payback" for the EU/Nato's support for Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. Interestingly, Spain is probably the only Western nation that doesn't recognize Kosovo's independence.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by matthewmacleod on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:18AM (#15568511)

Same reason they supported Brexit - it causes instability and weakens the EU.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by bzbarsky on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:27AM (#15568615)

If I had to guess: (1) Because they feel that it would add legitimacy to the "referendum" they held in Crimea, if only by comparison and (2) just generally to cause trouble in the EU.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by darishante on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:19AM (#15568523)

Russia seems to like Europe destabilized, in all possible ways.

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Re:Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain by jacquesm on Friday October 27, 2017 @10:26AM (#15568603)

Divide and conquer.

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