Iberian Peninsula, Catalonia until the early 18th century enjoyed a great deal of autonomy and is today designated as a nationality and is governed by its Statute of Autonomy provided by the Spanish Constitution. Catalonia is in news since the controversial independence referendum that was held on 1 October, 2017 which made headlines all across the globe. Catalans have a rich history and a culture of their own which differs a great deal from that of the mainland Spaniards. The Catalan independence movement is based on ‘Right to decide’ of Catalan citizens to be regarded as a nation-state and to form a separate republic, a demand which draws inspiration from Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which mentions the principle of ‘Right to Self-Determination’. This paper aims at providing an overview into the roots of modern Catalan nationalism which dates back to Franco’s dictatorship. This paper also attempts at offering an analysis of the issues behind this drastic shift in demand for secession from the autonomous status the region hitherto enjoyed, which are largely motivated by cultural considerations.
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