The world is facing a global paradigm shift, with the end of Western hegemony and the consolidation of a multipolar international order. Unfortunately, practically no entity in Catalonia has adapted to this new context from an analytical point of view. This leaves the citizens of Catalonia, their institutions and their economic agents lacking the capacity to comprehend the uncertainties provoked by the new reality. Beyond that is the loss of credibility the country has suffered abroad since its failure to meet international expectations generated by the independence referendum in October 2017 and the subsequent political misgivings.
At present, international relations in Catalonia are treated from a perspective that usually does not take into account world politics’ reality and Catalonia’s needs. We consider that currently, there is no entity, institution, or body in Catalonia that responds sufficiently to the aspiration to analyze and interpret the world according to a realist position: One that emphasizes how power and interests lie at the center of the disputes that drive the world stage while responding to a nationally-centered perspective of global dynamics.
In Catalonia international phenomena are usually portrayed through narrow ideological outlooks, which makes it difficult to find points of convergence where the different sensibilities present in Catalonia can work together in favour of the country’s international interests. Without overcoming obsolete mindsets, Catalonia cannot produce the analytical and pro-positive instruments to face the challenges of an increasingly volatile 21st century. The alliances that Catalonia is able to weave in a multipolar world will have consequences for the lives of all its citizens and the global position of its capital, Barcelona.
In order to promote positive change, it is necessary to generate different, novel ideas, more appropriate to the current state of world politics, and to expand the scope of analysis and public debate. We aim to provide the country with tools that are useful to both private and public agents, allowing them to navigate a mercurial global context and to orient their decisions in accordance with Catalonia's national interest.
Firstly, there is a need for an entity that understands the international system as governed by states that compete to defend their national interests. Our aim is to facilitate the identification of political, economic and geostrategic opportunities that will allow us to improve and enhance the international position of Catalonia.
Secondly, this entity will work to recover the credibility of Catalonia as a political subject that aspires to gain full sovereignty. Despite being fully aware of Catalonia's current political status, we believe that Catalonia must carry out its international relations according to realist premises, on the basis of which it will be able to speak in the language of the state’s system.
Thirdly, the entity must have a broad, creative viewpoint which will go beyond the institutional instruments, and will work to consider how Catalonia can better project itself in diverse fields such as culture, economy, security, and the role of the Catalan diaspora.
For all these reasons, the undersigned announce through this manifesto our desire to establish and promote this entity, under the denomination of the Catalonia Global Institute, aspiring to work with public and private agents for the internationalization of Catalonia in terms of vision and aspiration of statehood.
Abel Riu, political scientist specialized in post-Soviet space.
Dani Roldan, political scientist and lawyer
Jofre Rocabert, PhD in political science from the Polytechnic University of Zurich
Rosa Cabús, graduated in War Studies and Philosophy
Miquel Vila, political scientist specialized in East Asia
Roger Castellanos, Ph.D. in philosophy from the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Víctor Puig, political consultant and analyst
Zahia Guidoum, political scientist and sociologist
Cristòfol Soler, expresident del Govern de les Illes Balears i membre del secretariat de l’Assemblea Sobiranista de Mallorca
Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, former vice-president of the Government of Catalonia
Elisenda Paluzie, president of the Catalan National Assembly
Josep Cruanyes, former vice-president of the Catalan National Assembly
Vicent Partal, journalist and director of Vilaweb
Sergi Perelló, secretary general of the Intersindical-CSC
Salvador Cardús, sociologist, journalist and writer
Jordi Graupera, philosopher
Josep Lluís Alay, head of the office of President Carles Puigdemont
Joana Pujol, coordinator of the international advocacy committee of the Catalan National Assembly's
Jaume Bardolet, former coordinator of the international advocacy commttee of the Catalan National Assembly
Anna Arqué, spokesperson of the International Commission of European Citizens
Pol Molas, president of the Society for Military Studies
Aleix Sarri, advisor to Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí at the European Parliament, author of two books on the European Union
Carles Castellanos, historical pro-independence activist
Blanca Serra, historical pro-independence activist
Julià de Jòdar, journalist and writer
Marta Rojals, architect
Albano Dante Fachín, journalist
Antonio Baños, journalist
Aleix Renyé, journalist and writer
Antoni Infante, coordinator of Platform for the Right to Decide of the Valencian Country
Catalan Business Circle
Albert Juanico, Albert Juanico Monpart, board member of the Anem per Feina business association
Montserrat Guibernau, Ph.D. in social and political theory
Eulàlia Pascual, Ph.D. in International Law
Antoni Soy, economist
Marc Sanjaume, political scientist and professor of political science
Roser Maresma, secretary general of the International Federation of Catalan Organizations (FIEC)
Antoni Montserrat, Studies and Analysis member of the International Federation of Catalan Entities (FIEC)
Andreu Criquet, Asia member of the Sectorial Committee of European Union and International Politics of the Republican Left of Catalonia
Sònia Galtié, France and former USSR member of the Sectorial Committee of EU and International Politics of the Republican Left of Catalonia