Demands for self-determination of the Catalans and the effects of a potential Catalan secession on EU integration: SWOT analysis

While self-determination which is an important and controversial concept in the literature of international relations is accepted as a tool for gaining autonomy by various communities, it is interpreted as being an independent state by some segments of the society. The European continent having more than fifty separatist movements within its borders is one of the regions where the demands for self-determination based on being an independent state are seen mostly. Nearly thirty of these separatist movements are included in the EU. Recently, Catalans have expressed the strongest demands for self-determination based on secession from the EU. Self-determination requests, which started with the demand for autonomy in the Catalonia region of Spain, turned into a demand for secession during historical process. It is certain that a possible Catalan secession from Spain as a result of aforementioned demands will create some uncertainties for the EU. Therefore, it is important to examine how a possible secession will shape EU integration regarding its effects on minorities within the EU. In this context, the aim of the study is to determine how a possible Catalan secession will shape the EU integration, by addressing the change and transformation that the Catalan people's demands for self-determination, which is concluded in demand for secession, throughout the historical process. The effects of a possible Catalan secession from Spain on the EU integration have been revealed by performing SWOT Analysis specific to the dissertation study. With the SWOT analysis, the strengths, and weaknesses of EU integration in the face of a possible Catalan secession, as well as the opportunities and threats of this situation in terms of EU integration have been explained. It was concluded that Catalans secession from Spain at the cost of excluding from EU may have negative effects on EU integration, especially in terms of encouraging other separatist movements and transforming Spain into a country putting more financial burden on the Union