The Common Ideological Roots of Catalan and Spanish Nationalism (19th — Early 20th Century)

Catalan and Spanish nationalisms shared common roots tracing back to the ideas of the French Revolution. Initially, the notion of nationhood was perceived in Spain as a revolutionary threat, but during the war with France, it evolved into a unifying factor. In the 19th century, liberal nationalism in Spain developed both centralist and federalist currents. Catalan intellectuals were actively involved in the latter and emerged as its leading proponents. However, the failure of the First Republic and its attempts at decentralizing Spain demonstrated the unpopularity of these ideas. During the Restoration period, Catalan nationalism increasingly positioned itself in opposition to Spanish nationalism, ultimately leading to a sharp conflict between the two national projects in the 20th century.