in the regional elections. This is big news for Catalonia, which has demanded its full

independence from Spain for decades. As an already distinct and self reliant region,

we wanted to know, just how powerful is Catalonia?

Well, Catalonia is an autonomous community within Spain. Although they are still technically

under Spanish rule, they have their own government which includes a President and Parliament.

More importantly, they have their own culturally distinct identity, and even their own language:

Catalan.

Catalonia makes up about 12 and a half thousand square miles, comprising roughly 6 percent

of Spain. Their population is about 7.5 million, with one in six Spanish residents living in

Catalonia. The capital, Barcelona, is the second most populous city, after Spain’s

capital, Madrid. This relatively small subsection of the country is actually one of its most

industrialized. In 2012, the autonomous region brought in 255 billion dollars, nearly 20%

of Spain’s total GDP. This would rank them roughly 42nd worldwide, right between Chile

and Pakistan.

The reason for such a strong financial presence is that Barcelona is a massive economic hub

for the European Union. Their industrial sector is primarily based on food and beverages,

chemical production, biopharmaceuticals, and medical technology. The capital is also an

important tourist destination, with one in four tourists in Spain visiting Catalonia.

Beach resorts, fine dining, and famous art by Salvador Dali and architect Antoni Gaudi

contribute greatly to Catalonia’s popularity.

But although Catalonia is an economically and culturally significant force seeking independence,

they do lack one of the most important aspects of being a sovereign nation: a military. Because

Catalonia is still beholden to Spain, any Catalan soldiers are inherently loyal to Spanish

interests. Although Spain’s military only ranks about 48th worldwide, they have more

than enough stopping power to invade and dominate Catalonia. Some have said that if Catalonia

were to secede, Spain could easily consider it illegal and send troops into the region

to defend “territorial integrity.”

Like many other subjugated peoples living in what they consider to be foreign territory,

Catalonia is in a tough position. While they may have a strong enough culture and economy

to survive on their own, Spain has a dedicated interest and ability to prevent them from

seeking independence. Since a fifth of Spain’s economy is localized in Catalonia, there is

little surprise that this is one golden goose they’re unwilling to let go. Still, with

such a pro-independent government and its people, it seems to be only a matter of time

until those tensions are resolved peacefully. Or, like many other nations, Catalonia may

be facing a violent revolution for sovereignty.

Interested in learning more about why Catalonia has been seeking independence from Spain?

Check out Seeker Daily’s video. Thanks for watching TestTube! Don’t forget to like

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