AbstractsPolitical Science

Catalan external activities and the Spanish state/region relationship The theme of this thesis is the political activity carried out by the Spanish region Catalonia and directed towards actors outside the border of the Spanish State. I name this regional external activities "paradiplomacy", and ask: Can the paradiplomatic activity of Catalonia indicate a process of change in the Spanish system of governance? Is it a process of change that will reflect the tendencies of a "Europe of the regions"? As implied by the research questions does the thesis treat the Catalan paradiplomacy on the background of the European regionalisation process. I assume that the regionalisation causes changes in the relationship between the central and regional level of governance, and that the type of relation prevailing between central and regional authorities influences the system of state government. I present four possible outcomes of decentralised state governance: the decentralised state, the federal state, the confederation, and the separation into independent states. And I point out several factors that can influence the outcome in the case of the Spanish system of state government: the European integration and its institutions, the Catalan nationalism, the Spanish Constitution, the bargaining strategies adopted by the Catalan and the Spanish authorities, and the Catalan paradiplomacy. The central/regional relation is studied in connection with issues defined as paradiplomatic activity, because I assume that paradiplomacy will have a special significance for the relation since international relations always have been the competence of the central government. The modern and democratic Spanish state, "el estado de las autonomías" (the state made up of autonomies) contains 17 autonomous regions. Catalonia is one of the three historic regions, and can point at statehood in the past. The medieval principality of Catalonia preserved its own language, distinctive political administration, written and customary laws, monetary system and fiscal barriers until 1714. During the European nation-building period (18th and 19th century) Spain failed to nationalise all inhabitants into Spaniards. Instead a nation-building process took place in Catalonia. The dictatorship of General Franco (1939-1975) only led to strengthen the Catalan nationalism. Today Catalonia appears as an economically strong, historic region with a living nationalism. An important part of the Catalan nationalism is to strengthen the Catalan national identity by participation on the international scene. Paradiplomatic activities are therefore pivotal in the national strategy of the Catalan government. In this thesis I present five different categories of Catalan paradiplomatic activities: official trips abroad, Catalan trade and investments, participation in international conferences and organisations, opening offices abroad, and political, cultural and economic bilateral agreements. I analyse examples of Catalan paradiplomacy to study the importance of this activity for the…