Catalan Independence From the Perspective of International Law

Abstract

In the modern international system, state recognition is given much importance due to the issues relating to statehood. The recognition of states is a legal issue associated with international law. According to the international law, there are traditional and modern criteria to be considered when giving recognition to states. An entity has to be considered as a State in the international system if those criteria are satisfied. The objective of this study is to find out whether Catalonia can be identified as a state in the international system applying the statehood criteria. This research is a qualitative research based on secondary data. The data collection through the case study method. The case that is used in this study is Catalonia which unilaterally declared independence recently despite the objections of Spain and the international community. In analyzing the case, the statehood criteria are applied and assessed to confirm whether Catalonia fulfills those criteria in order to be successfully declaring the independence. The paper concludes that Catalonia did not fully satisfy the international law provisions and statehood criteria regarding statehood, while Spain strongly disagreed the self-declared independence stating that it is an illegal declaration of independence. According to the findings, it is further evident that Catalonia does not fulfill the criteria mentioned in the Montevideo Convention to be identified as an independent state.