Contentious emancipation. Processual frames on national self‐determination in Catalonia

Abstract This paper looks into the frames of the Catalan quest for national self‐determination during the second decade of the XXI century. Specifically, it analyzes how pro‐independence actors frame the intermediate steps to move forward towards national sovereignty within a process that becomes contentious. In this regard, the Catalan pro‐independence movement is a good contemporary opportunity for analysis. From a combined view on nationalism, this paper deductively introduces two collective action frames: institutionalization and mobilization. Institutionalization frames are depicted as the agency‐oriented and material steps needed to advance towards a political goal. Mobilization frames, on the other hand, are focused on the contentious episodes of a process. This paper concludes that while the two frames are present in the Catalan case, mobilization frames stand out for its relevance.