Scots and Catalans: Union and Disunion

by J. H. Elliott

Overview

A landmark account that reveals the long history behind the current Catalan and Scottish independence movements

A distinguished historian of Spain and Europe provides an enlightening account of the development of nationalist and separatist movements in contemporary Catalonia and Scotland. This first sustained comparative study uncovers the similarities and the contrasts between the Scottish and Catalan experiences across a five-hundred-year period, beginning with the royal marriages that brought about union with their more powerful neighbors, England and Castile respectively, and following the story through the centuries from the end of the Middle Ages until today’s dramatic events.
 
J. H. Elliott examines the political, economic, social, cultural, and emotional factors that divide Scots and Catalans from the larger nations to which their fortunes were joined. He offers new insights into the highly topical subject of the character and development of European nationalism, the nature of separatism, and the sense of grievance underlying the secessionist aspirations that led to the Scottish referendum of 2014, the illegal Catalan referendum of October 2017, and the resulting proclamation of an independent Catalan republic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300253382
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	04/28/2020
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

J. H. Elliott is Regius Professor Emeritus of Modern History at Oxford University. He was knighted for his services to history and has been honored by the Spanish government. He won the Balzan Prize for his publications on European history and the Francis Parkman Prize for Empires of the Atlantic World.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Note on Stylistic Usage x

Maps xii

Introduction 1

1 Dynastic Union, 1469-1625 6

The Background to Union 6

Foundation Myths 18

Union and Dissension 28

2 Rebellion and Its Aftermath, 1625-1707/1716 39

Roads to Rebellion 39

The Consequences of Rebellion 54

Succession Crises 71

The Moment of Choice 78

3 Incorporating Unions, 1707-1789 89

Forms of Union 89

The Impact of Incorporating Union 100

New Opportunities 111

Degrees of Enlightenment 127

4 Nations and States, 1789-1860 133

Dual Patriotism 133

Industrialization and Its Consequences 151

National Narratives 163

5 The Call for Home Rule, 1860-1975 179

Grievance and Redress 179

Post-War Transformations 199

The Spanish Tragedy 208

The British Consensus 221

6 Breaking Away? 1975-2017 225

Constitutional Change 225

Forging a State 236

Going for Broke 250

Epilogue 265

Family Trees 274

Notes 277

Bibliography 306

Index 320

Editorial Reviews

An Illuminating account.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Books of the Year 2018”

“For a greater understanding of Scotland and Catalonia within a wider crisis of mainstream politics, this thought-provoking book is an ideal place to start.”—Donald MacRaild, THES

“A pioneering and scrupulously even-handed comparative history.”—The Economist

“Nobody writing in English knows more about early modern Spain than Elliott. . . . I rejoice at the depth of context this book brings to two highly unpredictable political situations.”—Jerry White, Irish Times

“Scots and Catalans is a stimulating history book, but most of all it is a political polemic. It aims to show how the two independence movements are based on false interpretations of history.”—Michael Eaude, Catalonia Today

“Elliott’s comparative study of the political trajectories of Scotland and Catalonia from the end of the fifteenth century to the present day is both extremely useful and highly successful.”—Jordi Larios, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

“Elliott has an excellent grasp of both the Catalan and the Scottish contexts. . . . Engaging reading.”—Volker Prott, Journal of Modern History

Finalist in the 2019 Los Angeles Times Prizes, History category

“J. H. Elliott is a superb guide through the complexities of Catalan and Scottish history. With a deft touch and lucid prose he fully demonstrates the great value of historical comparison for understanding present conditions in both societies.”—Professor Emeritus Sir Tom Devine, University of Edinburgh

“Rarely has a work of comparative history been so timely and newsworthy. J. H. Elliott’s learned comparative study of the long-term trajectories of Scotland and Catalonia is a reliable guide to the current travails of the nation-state in Western Europe. Elliott cogently explains the background to the phoenix-like revival of long-submerged historic nations within both the UK and Spain.”—Colin Kidd, author of Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland, 1500–2000 and British Identities before Nationalism: Ethnicity and Nationhood in the British Atlantic World, 1600–800

“An excellent, detailed, properly comparative study that foregrounds the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding in modern constitutionalism.”—Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow

“J. H. Elliott’s new book offers a deeply considered and timely perspective on the attempts of the Scottish and Catalan nationalist movements to secure independence. Written with all his customary elegance and incisiveness, it is authoritative in its historical assessments and notably fair-minded in its examination of controversial issues. Scots and Catalans provides the essential starting point for anyone who wishes to understand the problems currently besetting both London and Madrid on their northern periphery.”—Professor Hamish Scott, FBA, All Souls College, Oxford

“The similarities and contrasts between Scotland and Catalonia throw many fundamental aspects of Scottish history into sharp relief. The result is not only a masterful exercise in comparative history. It is also a compelling account of British history from a Scottish perspective, and a superb introduction to Scottish history itself.”—Dauvit Brown

From the Publisher

'An excellent, detailed, properly comparative study that foregrounds the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding in modern constitutionalism' - Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow

Murray Pittock

Julian Elfer narrates this sweeping history of two nations, Scotland and Catalonia, fluidly and languidly. Elliott compares and contrasts these nations with respect to politics, economics, customs, and even social norms from the earliest times to the present. Complex questions are raised about independence and interdependence with Great Britain and Spain, respectively. Elfer’s voice is steady and emotionally engaged as he presents the sweeping sentences that make up this detailed history. He shifts seamlessly between English and Spanish while maintaining clear and concise enunciation in both languages, along with less frequent phrases in French, German, and Italian. The histories of the Scots and Catalans are intertwined and carefully compared in some chapters, treated separately in others. References are seamlessly integrated into the narration. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile