As the Scottish referendum date approaches, the Catalans will be watching Scotland with anticipation. A “Yes” vote will buoy the Catalan cause and set a hopeful precedent for Catalonia’s own public debate. However, the Catalans need not necessarily be discouraged by a “No” vote (though Madrid will no doubt be pleased). Catalonia has the momentum it needs to ensure a “Yes” vote in its own referendum. While a positive result will not mean secession—at least in the near future—it could provide Catalonia the leverage it needs to achieve its political, cultural and fiscal desires.

Ainslie Noble holds a B.A and M.A. from the University of Melbourne and is the author of Memory, Identity and Violence: Comparing Contemporary Catalonia and the Basque Country in France and Spain. She is a contributing analyst at Wikistrat.

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