Well, people can justify it this way.. but right now, basically is modern political imaginary and simbolism to get votes. Otehr regions of spain have a psudo-independent state atauts (Navarra), others are strucutred as a federation-confedereation with Spain (Basque Country),and still is Catalonia the more famous in right-wing spanish environment since ETA is diminished because Catalonia alwyas wants independence and get spaniards money.
Some people think that it is because the catalan families (our oligrarchy) has a desire to influence in the Madrid down-town high echelons and in the Spanish structure...and this is something whch leads to a big ideologic fight with other power groups.
Others people talk about the fact that Catalonia is the only place where a different language than spanish is used... that makes some easy symbolism if you are a spanish nationalistic party.
And the state of the spanish right-wing is awful (disgraceful, theys top at nothing) , the Consituttional Curt is in shambles, and the catalan oligarchy is stupid-dumb-stupid.
A pleasure I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude
Is a negative view of Catalans among other Spanish people only a very recent phenomenon due to right-wing demagogy (and dumb Catalan oligarchs), or does it reach further back?
having said that, you normally try what once worked in some way or form. So franco activist were against Madrid and catalonia, pre-franco times there was some animosity too but it was about anarchism-socialism-liberalism-authoritanism more than anything else..
It is a clear example of Levi_Strauss ideas, take a basic myth and make simple logical steps to adapt it.
So the basic mythology has history, the present virulent form is new.
Sociologically, Madrid's arrogant view as the unquestionable center of power is made up by large numbers of poverty-stricken rural migrants that have worked hard (in appalling conditions during the dictatorship) to reach a comfortable financial position in democracy, without equally improving their educational level. These two-three generations are easy prey for the PP pathology that repeats 'Catalunya has it easy with 'our' money and that's why you can't have more ... services'.
Catalunya is prosperous and has an image of being entrepenurial, persistent, productive and innovative, but not submissive. What's not to envy and reject?
Add to that the Catalan nasal speech and entonation that can be spotted immediately, plus their demand for equal political-economic treatment and you have the perfect 'other' in a knee-jerk brain. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
Meanwhile in catalonia.. well just the opposite.
