ABSTRACT

The recent economic crisis in Europe – from 2008 to 2013 – has altered the continent in numerous ways. In one key respect, the economic crisis has contributed to increased secessionist agitation within the regions of Scotland, Flanders, and Catalonia in the countries of the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain respectively. As political tensions have risen, older identities have become important politically, and in each case significant political agitation now exists. The Scottish National Party have a majority in the Scottish Parliament and held a referendum on independence on September 18, 2014; Nieuwe-Vlaamse Alliantie is the most popular party in Belgium following the 2010 election, despite not being part of the governing coalition under Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo – the party frequently calls for more powers to be transferred to the regions of Belgium and to Europe, which would effectively end the Belgian federation; Convergencia I Unio is the governing party in Catalonia and has increasingly asserted a desire to gain greater autonomy – and perhaps eventual independence – from Spain if the fiscal transfers to Madrid continue.