Catalonia’s referendum: four views on whether the vote should go ahead

The Catalan government has announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from Spain on 1 October. However, the Spanish government has argued that such a referendum would be unconstitutional and it is still unclear whether the vote will take place. We asked four academics to give their views on whether the vote should be held, and what it would potentially mean for Catalonia and Spain. Mireia Borrell Porta: Rajoy has left the Catalan government with no other option than to call a unilateral independence referendum Jose Javier Olivas: Does the Catalan independence movement really ‘love democracy’? Francesc Trillas: A yes/no self-determination referendum could be the cause of great division among Catalan citizens Toni Rodon Casarramona: It’s time to give Catalonia the chance to decide on its futur