Catalonia is just the most recent referendum on sovereignty. Why are they proliferating?
What nation do you belong to? That has been up for discussion lately in Catalonia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Scotland and Puerto Rico, all of which have held referendums on sovereignty. German authorities detained former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont this past Sunday at Spain’s request because of his nationalism, leading to still more Catalan protests.
The issues on which such popular votes weigh in can range from autonomy for a small territory to the breakup of an entire nation — and other topics that touch on national sovereignty, including joining or leaving the European Union or NATO.
Certainly, debates over “ordinary” referendums can get pretty heated, whether Ireland’s and Australia’s recent votes on marriage equality or California’s and Massachusetts’s votes on marijuana policy.… Seguir leyendo »