Case Study

Self-Determination vs. Territorial Integrity: The Paralyzed Fate of Catalonia

This case study was written during the spring semester of my junior year, following my semester abroad in Spain. Countless conversations at rallies and many hours huddled around TV sets for live updates following Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence sparked me to delve deeper into the roots of the movement and its legitimacy. In the early aftermath of October 1, 2017, this case study explores both sides of the conundrum, weighing the Autonomous Community’s case of grievances against the international community’s definition of self-determination and previous revolutions throughout history.