Catalan Review

Liberalisme i Independentisme, O L'Esperit Treballador Català

Catalan Review (2010), 24, (1), 387–400.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/CATR.24.1.387
Language
English
Pages
14

Abstract

An emergent discourse in contemporary Catalonia has linked economic liberalism and the project to constitute an independent state. By examining the journalistic texts of economist Xavier Sala i Martín and executive Xavier Roig, I show how this discourse reacts against two main and closely related phenomena: first, the fact that the restoration of the Generalitat after Francoism has entailed the statalization of Catalan civil society; and, second, the vanishing of the «entrepreneurial Catalan» as a central figure of the collective imaginary. My paper argues that the statalization of civil society and the devalorization of work are not conjunctural phenomena specific to Catalonia but structural tendencies of finance capitalism. To illustrate this point, I analyze Jordi Galceran's play El mètode Grönholm, in which the main character, Ferran Augé, is the perfect expression of the contradiction between the «entrepreneurial Catalan» and multinational capitalism. I further argue that liberalism cannot contest these structural tendencies; on the contrary, these are the consequence of the fusion of the state and the market that is essential to neoliberal capitalism. In this respect, the separatism of this liberal discourse emerges as the desire that Catalonia can fully participate in the interstate competition for global capital.

Access Token

FormatArticle

£25.00
READ THIS ARTICLE
References
Full Text
PDF
If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Althusser, Louis i Étienne Balibar. Reading Capital. Trad. Ben Brewster. Londres: Verso, 2006. Reading Capital Google Scholar

Arrighi, Giovanni. «Fascism to Democratic Socialism: Logic and Limits of a Transition». Semiperipheral Development: the Politics of Southern Europe in the Twentieth Century. Ed. a cura de Giovanni Arrighi. Beverly Hills: Sage, 1985. 243-279. Semiperipheral Development: the Politics of Southern Europe in the Twentieth Century 243 279 Google Scholar

Burnham, James. The Managerial Revolution. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1960. The Managerial Revolution Google Scholar

Cuyàs, Manuel. «Vaga a la catalana». El Punt. 30-9-2010. Web. 30 setembre 2010. «Vaga a la catalana» El Punt Google Scholar

Galceran, Jordi. El mètode Grönholm. Barcelona: Proa, 2008. El mètode Grönholm Google Scholar

Giner, Salvador. The Social Structure of Catalonia. Sheffield: The Anglo-Catalan Society, 1980. The Social Structure of Catalonia Google Scholar

Graupera, Jordi. Converses amb Xavier Sala i Martín. Barcelona: Dau, 2007. Converses amb Xavier Sala i Martín Google Scholar

Hardt, Michael i Antonio Negri. Labor of Dionysus. A Critique of the State-Form. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1994. Labor of Dionysus. A Critique of the State-Form Google Scholar

Hillgarth, J. N. The Problem of a Catalan Mediterranean Empire 1229-1327. Londres: Longman, 1975. The Problem of a Catalan Mediterranean Empire 1229-1327 Google Scholar

Jameson, Fredric. Valences of the Dialectic. Londres: Verso, 2009. Valences of the Dialectic Google Scholar

Kennedy, Gavin. «Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand: From Metaphor to Myth». Econ Journal Watch 6.2 (2009): 239-263. «Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand: From Metaphor to Myth» Econ Journal Watch 6 239 263 Google Scholar

Lazzarato, Maurizio. «Immaterial Labour». Radical Thought in Italy: A Potential Politics. Ed. a cura de Michael Hardt i Paolo Virno. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1996. 133-147. Radical Thought in Italy: A Potential Politics 133 147 Google Scholar

Marx, Karl. Capital: A Critique of Political Economy. Trad. Ben Fowkes. Londres: Penguin Books, 1976. Capital: A Critique of Political Economy Google Scholar

Marx, Karl. Grundrisse. Trans. i prefaci de Martin Nicolaus. Nova York: Penguin, 1993. Grundrisse Google Scholar

Pujol, Anton. «El mètode Grönholm o la submissió a les modernitats líquides ». Catalan Review XX (2006): 131-151. «El mètode Grönholm o la submissió a les modernitats líquides » Catalan Review XX 131 151 Google Scholar

Roig, Xavier. Entre l'Espanya i la paret. On és la sortida per a una societat civil que vol i pot progressar. Barcelona: La Campana, 2003. Entre l'Espanya i la paret. On és la sortida per a una societat civil que vol i pot progressar Google Scholar

Roig, Xavier. La dictadura de la incompetència. Barcelona: La Campana, 2008. La dictadura de la incompetència Google Scholar

Roig, Xavier. Ni som ni serem. Avís d'un executiu internacional: Catalunya perd eficàcia. Barcelona: La Campana, 2002. Ni som ni serem. Avís d'un executiu internacional: Catalunya perd eficàcia Google Scholar

Roig, Xavier. «Pla B: treballar». Avui, 16-7-2010. Web. 16 juliol 2010. «Pla B: treballar» Avui Google Scholar

Rotschild, Emma. «Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand». American Economic Review 84 (2): 319-322. «Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand» American Economic Review 84 319 322 Google Scholar

Rubert de Ventós, Xavier. Catalunya. De la identitat a la independència. Barcelona: Empúries, 1999. Catalunya. De la identitat a la independència Google Scholar

Sala i Martín, Xavier. L'economia liberal per a no economistes i no liberals. Barcelona: Dèria, 2001. L'economia liberal per a no economistes i no liberals Google Scholar

Sala i Martín, Xavier. «Sala i Martín: "El Barça no pot anar demanant perdó per ser català"». TV3. Televisió de Catalunya, 30-9-2009. Web. 29 abril 2010. Google Scholar

Schmitt, Carl. The Concept of the Political. Trad. i introd. de George Schwab. Chicago: The U of Chicago P, 1996. The Concept of the Political Google Scholar

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. a cura de Robert S. Miola. Nova York: W. W. Norton: 2003. Macbeth Google Scholar

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Books IV-V. Ed. a cura d'Andrew Skinner. Londres: Penguin, 1999. The Wealth of Nations. Books IV-V Google Scholar

Stephens, Paul i Robert Hardwick Weston. «Free Time. Overwork as an Ontological Condition». Social Text 26.1 (2008): 137-164. «Free Time. Overwork as an Ontological Condition» Social Text 26 137 164 Google Scholar

Vicens i Vives, Jaume. Notícia de Catalunya. Barcelona: Destino, 1962. Notícia de Catalunya Google Scholar

Vicens i Vives, Jaume i Montserrat Llorens. Industrials i polítics del segle XIX. Barcelona: Vicens-Vives, 1961. Industrials i polítics del segle XIX Google Scholar

Vilar, Pierre. La Catalogne dans l'Espagne moderne. Recherches sur les fondements économiques des structures nationales. París: Sevpen, 1962. 3 v. La Catalogne dans l'Espagne moderne. Recherches sur les fondements économiques des structures nationales 3 Google Scholar

Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Trad. Talcott Parsons. Londres: Routledge, 1992. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Google Scholar

Wight, Jonathan B. «The Treatment of Smith's Invisible Hand». The Journal of Economic Education 38.3 (2007): 341-358. «The Treatment of Smith's Invisible Hand» The Journal of Economic Education 38 341 358 Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Illas, Edgar