Catalonia: Lessons from Quebec: A Wise Political Elite Prepares the Worst Case Scenario

In: Welt-Trends: das außenpolitische Journal, Volume 98, p. 91-92

Abstract

The Quebec government has held two referendums in order to achieve sovereignty, one in 1980 and one in 1995. On both occasions, the Quebec population rejected the sovereignty proposal. The two referendums were democratic and fed by lively public debates involving all political parties, provincial and federal. The results were accepted both by the general population and the main political players; however, despite two defeats the sovereignty movement has not given in. A significant portion of the Quebec population, although a minority, still embraces the sovereignty option and many separatist parties still promote it. Adapted from the source document.