How influential were social media in the Arab uprisings of 2011?

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What explains the achievements of the Catalonia independence movement and

how the transnational movement has developed?

The independence movement in Catalonia is one of modern days most pressing examples of a

transnational social movement. In this essay I will outline how the political debate has been

developed using key forms of framing processes such as amplification and bridging (Bedford &

Snow), allowing a huge following of Catalans and left wing political parties to demand

independence from their neighboring allies. Proceeding on to the analysis of structures and

their use of motivation and mobilization. Before concluding I will touch upon the political

portion of the debate and the use of democratic strategies. The focus of this essay is to show

the how the movement has achieved it stature and also how it has developed from a past to a

contemporary issue.

History and Development:

In terms of the historical factors, the movement has been an ongoing and uphill battle for the

northern state of Spain for the past century. The political events begin in 1922 when Francesc

Macià founded the political party Estat Catalàn, known in English as the Catalan State. This

political party then developed into the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya in 1931 (C.

Mortimer, 2017, P. 1). After negotiations with the Spanish Republic, the political party accepted

autonomy. However, this was short lived as after seven years, during the Spanish civil war,

General Francisco Franco abolished Catalan autonomy in 1938. Whilst living within a violent

dictatorship, the Left wing political party had very little power within Spain, however in 1975,

after the death of Fransisco Franco, Catalan political parties concentrated on autonomy rather

than independence. This event then grew in to a much larger concern within Spanish politics

following Catalonia's attempt to gain independence in 2006 (D. Conversi, 2000, p.22). They

agreed to hold a referendum within Catalonia to thereby take a vote for independence, an

event that was challenged immediately by the supreme court of Spain which deemed the event

unconstitutional (s. Jones, 2017, p.1). In terms of the most recent case, in 2017, the Catalan

people took to the street in attempt to gain their independence. The people were met by brutal

force by the Spanish government in which police officers attacked voters in attempt to stop the

referendum from taking place (D. Almeida, 2017, p.1). After an overwhelming decision to leave

the Spanish counter parts the Spanish government stated that the vote was not legal and

therefore not to be accepted.

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Framing Processes:

Framing is defined as "the strategic effort by groups of people to fashion shared understandings

of the world and of themselves that legitimate and motivate collective action" (McAdam,

McCarthy and Zald, 1998, p.6) The development of the movement is showcased through the

framing process. In regards to this transnational social movement (TSN) it is imperative to

highlight the key forms of framing. The first example is the use of bridging, the "linking of

ideologically congruent but previously unconnected frames" (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p.624) this

correlates directly to the idea of bridging the movement to individuals, thereby linking an idea

or concept to becoming a physical and visible movement. The clearest example was

demonstrated on the 11th of September 2013 when one million three hundred thousand

Catalans took to the street to create a 'human chain' that span over four hundred miles long

(BBC news, 2013). The activists called for independence, with banners that read 'Catalonia is

not Spain', proclaiming for a referendum to be held in 2014. One use of bridging represents a

form of bridging theoretical concepts to the form of mobilization, thereby being able to gain a

voice through the motivation and liberal ideals of the movement followers. Due to the delicacy

of this TSN, the achievements have been few, even with the vast majority of Catalan people

fighting for their independence. Although, Catalonia has held two prior referendums, the real

event was to be taken place on the 1st of October 2017. The results stated that there was 2.26

million voters and 90% voted for independence (Harriet Alexander, 2017, The Telegraph).

Although this may have felt like a victory for the northerner region, the events of that day were

horrifying as the Spanish government, Prime Minister Rajoy, whom opposed the event sent riot

police and guards in attempt to stop votes. A Spanish newspaper called 'El pais' recorded that

"893 people were injured last Sunday as a result of the police action ordered to stop the illegal

referendum in Catalonia." (Debora Almeida, 2017, El pais) This form of mobilization through the

form of bridging can be compared to other social movements, both past and present, such as

those displayed in 1982 by the Anti-nuclear weapons march in New York or a contemporary

example of the Women's Rights march in January of 2017 (L. Rothman, 2017, Time)

An alternative definition describes framing as "crucial because social movements try to replace

a dominant belief system that legitimizes the status quo with an alternative mobilizing belief

system that supports collective action for change.' (Gamson, Fireman & Rytina) The use of

amplification, the "invigoration of existing frames." (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p. 263). Bedford

and Snow describe this framing process as "accenting and highlighting some issues, events, or

beliefs as being more salient than others." (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p. 263) Using this tactic, the

independence party used its history as a form of amplification. Before 1707, Catalonia, along

with other norther Spanish territories, were independent from Spain. However, once the reign

of King Phillip V had begun, and the war was lost, Catalonia and the remaining territories would

become the modern Spain (Balcells, 2002, p. 6). The events that followed in the battle of Ebro

in 1938 when General Fransisco Franco killed "3,500 people and forcing many more into

exile"(Harriet Alexander, 2017, The Telegraph) This would spark a hatred between the

oppression of totalitarianism and the independence they once had. The Catalan people

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highlight the ideals that their liberties were striped hundreds of years before and therefore the

restoration of their independent nation is to be once again. This demonstrates how framing

processes such as amplification can occasionally overlap with others such as transformation in

which the social movement develops into new arguments that span over larger ideas such as

neo liberalism. The achievement of this framing process is thus seen on such occasions as the

events that took place on 11th of September 2013 as exampled previously. A unification of local

people to fight for liberalism and democracy. (D. Coversi, 2000, p. 23)

The Core Framing Task:

The Core Framing task is described as the "collective action frames are constructed in part as

movement adherents negotiate a shared understanding of some problematic condition or

situation they define as in need of change." The aim is to "make attributions regarding who or

what is to blame, articulate an alternative set of arrangements, and urge others to act in

concert to affect change". (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p. 615) Within their assessment they use an

adaptation of Wilson's decomposition of ideology and refer to three core framing tasks. The

first aspect referred to the Diagnostic framing, described as the "problem identification and

attributions". (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p. 615) In relation to the Catalonian independence

example, the diagnostic is fairly explicit. "Citizens exercising their democratic rights to free

expression”. (AFM, 2017, p.1) However, it seems that their rights have been violated with the

actions taken on October 1st in which they bagged up "ballot boxes in black bin liners, wrapping

them in police tape before hauling them away" and used Spanish riot police whom were "firing

rubber bullets and forcing their way into activist-held polling stations in Catalonia."(AFM, 2017,

p.1) The second was the Prognostic framing, used to find a common solution that neutralizes

the problem. However, at this moment in time, there has been no form of solution from either

party. Finally, the Motivational Framing, known as the "call to arms" (Snow & Bedford, 2000, p.

617) thereby a form of gathering support. Bedford identifies "four generic vocabularies of

motivation" those being "severity, urgency, efficacy, and propriety. " The example used within

the text relates to the US anti-nuclear movement in which the severity of the problem dictates

its prioritization. Therefore, the more pressing issues are the ones that are first to be address.

However, Bedford also suggested that "pending on their relative saliency for the participants,

these four vocabularies of motive worked in a contradictory rather than complementary

fashion." Meaning that a sense of urgency can sometimes make it more difficult to find a

solution. This relates to the problems with Catalonia, because of the increasing pressure on the

Spanish government and Prime Minister Rajoy, it had led to poor decision making such as

violence and a lack of dialogue between the separatists and the Spanish government (S. Jones,

2017, p. 1).

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Mobilizing Structures:

Within all social movements, regardless of their intent, they all rely on a base structure that

inevitably allows them to create a cohesive and underlining agenda. When discussing the

specific concept of mobilizing structures, Jackie Smith describes it as the 'fundamental

infrastructures that support and condition citizen mobilization' in TSMs. The concept of

motivation is to encourage mobilization. There are two forms of mobilizing structures, informal;

Transnational Social Movement Organizations (TSMOs) or informal structures; the social

networks of everyday life. Within Smith's witting they discuss the use of 'Typology' in which

both structures influence the motivation and, most importantly, support of individual to join

the cause (Smith et al, 1997). On the 11th of October 2017, Eric Gutermann, a writer for The

Washington Post, wrote an article following the accounts of the referendum the prior week.

Within his article he disclosed the growing trend of the left-wing party within Catalonia and the

support of the independence movement. The article stated that "Before 2010, it was rare for

more than 20 percent of Catalans to support independence. After 2010, support increased due

to the Great Recession, leading to widespread unemployment. " The statistics then proceeded

to grow in which showed that 49% of the Catalan people wanted independence in 2015 (E.

Gutermann, 2017, Washing Post). The quantitative data showed a clear indication in a growing

support for the independence movement and demonstrates how both formal structures such

as the left-wing Catalan independence party and informal structures such as social media and

word of mouth can greatly affect the swing of TSNs.

Opportunity Structures:

Furthermore, an adaptation of Smith's work showed that opportunity structures are also key

within social movements. They relate to factors in the social and political environments in

which TSMs operate that facilitate or constrain their activities (Adapted from Smith et al, 1997).

The structures are divided into three categories: National, Intergovernmental and

Transnational. Within the events of Catalonia, the national category would relate to the people

that are affected and/or want to inflict change. The Catalan people want to voice their opinions

and "express their liberties" (S. Jones, 2017, p. 1) such as freedom of speech. In this instance,

the intergovernmental and transnational structures are two of one. They are represented by

the 'Left Republic of Catalonia' (Equiera republia de Catalunya), shown by Fransesc Macia not

only being the 122th President of Catalonia but also the instigator of the independence

movement. This therefore allies the structures to meet governmental and transnational

reaches. The purpose of opportunity structures are to "align support from the people to a

coherent voice" (G. Marks & D. McAdams, 2007, p. 278). Therefore, when discussing the

achievements (or lack of), the TSM must show clearly the who, what, where, when and why.

Undoubtable the independence movement has covered all their objectives as seen by the

overwhelming evidence from Catalan supports to the ideals that they share. However, their

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most important achievement is their ability to gather immense support that had forced Prime

Minister Rajoy into opening dialogue with the left party in Catalonia (J. Toyer, 2014).

However, three years later, there have been no resolutions to the problem at hand. This relates

to the framing process of Diagnostic, Prognostic and Motivation suggested by Snow and

Bedford. The Diagnostic (e.g. problem) has been acknowledged, communication between the

Catalan party and the Spanish government had begun, and yet the prognostic is still to be

decided with the more powerful, Spanish, government failing to acknowledge the issue. Rajoy

has now refused to open dialogue and has said "To return to the observance of the law –

because you can’t have a part of the country where the law is not obeyed" (S. Jones, 2017, p.

1).

Democracy:

When discussing the development and achievements of such Transnational Social Movements,

it is equally important to analyze the potential lack of. Many writers such as Downs those for

Gefira suggested that the TSM is failing due to factors such as "lack of leadership "and

unprecedented timing" (Downs, 1957, p. 97), however there may be greater calls for concern.

The Spanish government deemed the referendum "unconstitutional" and "illegal"(Debora

Almeida, 2017, El pais), however they have failed to acknowledge the needs of their citizens.

Donald Macleod published an article that criticized the EU, "They have shown no desire to

become involved in negotiating a peace. Incredible when the EU is supposed to be a champion

of democracy." The definition of a democracy is "a system of government by the whole

population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected

representatives."(Terchek, 2001, p. 42) By ignoring the voice of the people or their eligible

member of state, you are taking away their liberal rights and therefore ignoring the

fundamental existence of a democracy. (Crepaz, 2009, p. 14) This links to the Zapatista

movement in Mexico 1983 whom fought for the "democratization of democracy,” (Carvey,

1998). The movement fought for democracy and humanitarian rights, the same way Catalonia

fights for independence. The Zapatista movement was met by violence, causing the death of

many Mexican civilians. The objective of this aspect of the essay is to convey the lack of

development within the independence movement and the lack of action that has been taken

place by all parties. Rather than fighting for liberties such as independence it has been seen

many as a revoke of humanitarian rights.

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Conclusion

The circumstantial reality of the independent movement is that, by definition of Bedford and

Snow, the Transnational Social Movement is still within the diagnostical process thus suggesting

a lack of development by the independence movement within Catalonia. Both the Catalan

party and the Spanish government have failed to come to a mutual understanding, leaving the

civilians in an uproar at their governments inability to surpass this obstacle. In terms of

development, the movement has transformed their old ideal into modernized goals that the

people of Catalonia are willing to support. The achievements have been scarce, with Prime

Minister Rajoy and the Spanish government failing to value the referendum of Catalan or

acknowledge the wishes of the Catalan people, it has made the issue far tougher even in a

democratic society. The social movement has transformed into a mobilization for liberalism, an

example of bridging, due to the failures of government intervention, a consequence of lack of

progression. (Opp, 2009, p. 42) The TSN is still in progress and therefore it is greatly difficult to

estimate as to whether or not it with achieve its objectives. However, this essay does clarify the

direction in which Catalonia intends to move and the processes in which it uses to develop. In

light of this, it is imperative to address the lack of democracy or EU intervention that has seen a

tilted view on the definition of democracy. Therefore, one must wonder whether the

independence movement in Catalonia has taken one step forward towards independence of

two steps back into tyranny.

Word Count: 2603

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