The present-day situation in both Catalonia and Spain can be described as exceptional without exaggerating. Separatism, which had remained a minority political option within Catalan politics, is now struggling to become a majority option thanks to the overt, solid support provided by the highest-ranking institutions in the Autonomous Region. Catalonia's split is put forward as a realistic prospect in the short or medium run. As one would expect, this has given rise to a very lively debate within Catalan society and politics and, to a lesser extent, in the rest of Spain.
The debate that has been
started usually oscillates between marked voluntarism and some analysis, which
in many instances lack the thoroughness that we deem necessary in as big a
process as the division of a State.
That is the reason why
several professionals and scholars from different ideological backgrounds
gathered to form a group called "Brandenburg Gate" with a view to
contributing to such debate with rigor
and objectivity. We are concerned that the political, legal,
sociological, historical or even linguistic aspects of the process kicked off
by those advocating independence may be tackled with levity or ignorance. What
is at stake in Catalonia, Spain and Europe right now is important enough to be
taken as what it is: a problem that demands rigorous approaches and objective
analysis.
Alongside the debate on
secession, an interesting challenge to the current structure of Spain is
arising. Under different names, it calls for a re-thinking of the design
established by the Spanish Constitution in 1978, which has laid the basis for
Spain over the past thirty years. As members of “Brandenburg Gate” we are
interested in such discussion, which we also think that should be addressed
with rigor and responsibility. We doubt about the advisability of including the
reform of the State's structure as a further element in the debate over
secession. But we still wish to state our willingness to contribute to the
aforementioned debate on the grounds of objectivity, respect for each member's
view and thoroughness.
Our group chose the name
"Brandenburg Gate" to clearly show our desire to be a point where
different sensitivities and approaches can meet. For decades the Brandenburg
Gate has stood as a symbol of the separation between Eastern and Western Europe
and of the problematic communication between two ways of conceiving politics
and society. Nowadays it is a hallmark of a city that shows the world its
specifically Central European character in that it bridges the gap between the
East and the West. It is also a received opinion that it is a city where people
from very different national and ethnic origins live together, making up a
dynamic, diverse and intellectually challenging society.
Moreover, the history of
Berlin provides an array of meaningful elements for our goal. Over the first
decades in the twentieth century, Berlin gathered a number of remarkable
scholars, who turned the city into the core of scientific progress in the world.
Without interruption Berlin became the symbol of a totalitarian regime, which
was based on irrationality and was capable of the most dreadful deeds ever
committed by humanity. It was a city torn by war and subsequently divided,
which could transform walls into doors, confrontation into cooperation and
division into unity.
By choosing this name we
wish to show that we are willing to share analysis based on rigor, that we are
not afraid of confronting those who prefer agitation over reflection and that
we seek to find common ground instead of confrontation. Building gates with the stones from walls, that is our
purpose and we believe that the image of the Brandenburg Gate conveys this
idea. Walls separate and divide, whereas
doors open, allowing ideas from both sides to go through.. And that is, above
all, our objective, the free movement of critical, objective, rigorous and
diverse thinking.
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