Between Rupture and Bargaining

Figures

Figure 1: Divergent paths of radicalization in Scotland and Catalonia

Figure 2: Variables within center-periphery cleavage

Figure 3: Variables within socio-economic cleavage

Figure 4: Variables related to internal configuration of stateless nationalism

Figure 5: Divergent dynamics of party strategy (re)formation

Figure 6: Alliances and splits within Catalan nationalist parties between 2012 and 2015

Tables

Table 1: Gerschewski’s typology of institutional change

Table 2: Divergent mechanisms influencing SNRP strategies

Table 3: Electoral results in Scotland for the Westminster elections (1935–2019)

Table 4: The Catalan Parliament Elections (1980–1999)

Table 5: Local election results in Catalonia (1979–1999)

Table 6: The Catalan Parliament Elections (2003–2017)

Table 7: Scottish Parliament election results

Table 8: Support for independence in Catalonia (1996–2012)

Table 9: Support for independence in Catalonia (2011–2013)

Table 10: Local election results in Catalonia (2003–2023)

Table 11: Ideological positions of Catalan Nationalist Parties in September 2015

Table 12: Election results in Catalonia by vote and vote percentage in 2012 and 2015

Table 13: Voting results of the extraordinary National Assembly of CUP (December 27, 2015)

Table 14: Ideological positions of secessionist parties/entities in Scotland

Acknowledgments

Along this dreadful yet joyful journey, I have come to accumulate a long list of people to whom I owe my deepest gratitude. Above all, my greatest fortune was having a supervisor like Mert Arslanalp, who believed in me, constantly challenged and encouraged me to do better, and stood by my side whenever I struggled. Likewise, the critiques, suggestions, and support of my thesis supervisory committee members, Murat Akan and Şebnem Yardımcı Geyikçi, as well as Zeynep Kadirbeyoğlu, who was part of the committee in its early stages, were invaluable. I am also grateful to my thesis committee members, Mine Eder and Deniz Erkmen, for their insightful critiques and profound contributions.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Joan Lluís Pérez Francesch, who supervised me during my year as a visiting researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Since our first meeting in 2016, I have benefited from his trust, encouragement, and support. In particular, my challenging fieldwork in Catalonia would not have been successful without his efforts.

Having the opportunity to work with Nicola McEwen as my supervisor during my time as a visiting researcher at the University of Glasgow was a unique privilege. Her efforts in arranging interviews, along with her invaluable critiques and suggestions, made a significant contribution.

I would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for making this research possible by funding my one-year fieldwork in Barcelona through the 2214-A International Research Fellowship Programme for Ph.D. Students.

I am grateful to Murat Akan, whose patience, support, and mentorship greatly helped me conduct my fieldwork in Scotland, which was funded by the Boğaziçi University Scientific Research Project (Project Code: 19922).

My fieldwork was made possible thanks to the generous support of many people. I am grateful to Josep Lluís, Esther, Muhittin, Cristina, Joaquim Colominas, Augustí Colomines, Aurora Madaula, and Fulya Apaydın for their help in arranging interviews. During my research in Catalonia and Scotland, Marta, Esther, Hüma, Rikki, and Elsa were kind enough to host me. Onur İşçi, with his friendship and technical guidance, was an invaluable source of support in conducting my fieldwork in Scotland. I am also deeply appreciative of the researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s political science department, who shared their office space and friendship with me.

I extend my deepest gratitude to the members of Galatasaray University’s Political Science Department, where I have worked as a research assistant since the beginning of my master’s studies, for their patience and support. Yeşeren Eliçin and Birol Caymaz, the former and current chairs of the department, have always been understanding and supportive with their kindness. Füsun Üstel and Özgür Adadağ, who were instrumental in my decision to pursue an academic career, continued to support me throughout my doctoral research. As both a friend and colleague, Ayşecan Kartal was one of my greatest supporters during this journey. Cemil Yıldızcan was always in solidarity with me, offering wise and valuable advice. My fellow research assistants, Ezgi Öziş, Emirhan Aldinç, and Aybala Ertekin, were incredibly patient and supportive, even during the times when I was completely absorbed in working on my dissertation.

I am grateful to my dear friend Ezgi Murat for both technical support and patiently listening to my endless troubles. As my companion in this journey, Emir Kurmuş was always by my side throughout the process. My dear friends and comrades Görkem, Sedat, Oktay, Cemre, Merve, and Beliz showed immense patience with me during this period. Özden Cankaya and Leyla were among my closest supporters in the final stages of completing this dissertation.

The loss of my dear friend and comrade Muhittin in June 2023 was one of the deepest sorrows I experienced during this period. He was the one who instilled in me a deep passion for Catalonia, and throughout the dissertation process, he did everything he could to support me.

Finally, I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support in every decision I have made. Yusuf, Nevriye, and Volkan have always stood by my side throughout this journey with their endless sacrifices.

List of Abbreviations

AMI Association of Municipalities for Independence (Associació de Municipis per la Independència)

ANC Catalan National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional Catalana)

BComú Barcelona in Common (Barcelona en Comú)

BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc (Bloque Nacionalista Galego)

C’s The Citizens’ Party (Ciutadans)

CatDem Catalanist and Democrat Foundation (Fundació Catalanista i Demòcrata)

CATN Consultative Council for National Transition (Consell Assessor per a la Transició Nacional)

CC.OO Workers’ Commissions (Comisiones Obreras)

CDC Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya)

CDRs Committees for the defense of the referendum/republic (Comités de defensa del referendum/republica)

CEDA Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right (Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas)

CEO Center for Opinion Studies (Center d’Estudis d’Opinió)

CIS Center for Sociological Research (Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas)

CiU Convergence and Union (Convergència i Unió)

CNT National Confederation of Labor (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo)

Con-Dem The coalition government between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats

CSQEP Catalonia Yes We Can (Catalunya Sí Que Es Pot)

CUP Popular Unity Candidacy (Candidatura d’Unitat Popular)

DC Democrats of Catalonia (Demòcrates de Catalunya)

EI Independentist Left (Esquerra Independentista)

ERC Republican Left of Catalonia (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya)

FLA Autonomous Liquidity Fund (Fondo de Liquidez Autonómica)

FPTP First-past-the-post

HBOS Halifax Bank of Scotland

IC Initiative for Catalonia (Iniciativa per Catalunya)

ICV Initiative for Catalonia Greens (Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds)

JxSí Together for Yes (Junts Pel Sí)

JNC Nationalist Youth of Catalonia (Joventut Nacionalista de Catalunya)

Junts Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya)

LOAPA Organic Law for the Harmonization of the Autonomy Process (Ley Orgánica de Armonización del Proceso Autonómico)

MES The Left Movement (Moviment d’Esquerres)

MSSD The most similar system design

MDSD The most different system design

NHS National Health System

NPS National Party of Scotland

PAH People Affected by Mortgages (Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca)

PCE Communist Party of Spain (Partido Comunista de España)

PDeCAT Catalan European Democratic Party (Partit Demòcrata Europeu Català)

POUM Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification (Partit Obrer d’Unificació Marxista)

PSC Socialists’ Party of Catalonia (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya)

PNV Basque Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Vasco)

PP People’s Party (Partido Popular)

PPC Catalan People’s Party (Partit Popular Català)

PSAN Socialist Party of Catalan Countries’ National Liberation (Partit Socialista d’Alliberament Nacional)

PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español)

PSUC Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (Partit Socialista Unificat de Catalunya).

RBS Royal Bank of Scotland

RIC Radical Independence Campaign

RUI Unilateral Independence Referendum (Refendum Unilateral de Independencia)