Paper short abstract:

The paper explores the impact of Catalonia's 2017 referendum on self-determination, focusing on leftist individuals and Catalan anarchists facing a dilemma at the intersection of national and social priorities. The analysis shows the complexity of the dynamics of identity choices in such contexts.

Paper long abstract:

This paper presents ethnographic research examining the repercussions of a call for a referendum on self-determination, focusing on the events surrounding the non-legal secessionist referendum held in Catalonia (Spain) on October 1st, 2017. The Catalan nationalist movement leading up to this referendum had its roots in a process initiated in 2012, marked by escalating demands for establishing an independent Catalan state.

The practical organization of the ballot and the ensuing political debates revealed the desires and fears of the people regarding its potential outcomes. These elements contributed to a polarization within Catalan society, pitting secessionists against non-secessionist factions, thereby impacting the national identities and personal relations of individuals caught in the political conflict.

The political dilemma experienced by individuals with left-leaning perspectives is of particular interest, as they were compelled to weigh their priorities at the intersection between the national and the social axis. This internal conflict was especially challenging for Catalan anarchists, who found themselves in the tension between their ideological rejection of any form of state and nationalism and the greatest challenge to the established Spanish state in decades.

An analysis of the fieldwork and interviews reveals that responses to such national(ist) conflicts can be complex, emphasizing the intricate dynamics of political and identity choices in such contexts.