Barcelona has traditionally been the economic motor of Catalonia and its political and cultural capital. Moreover, the city and its surroundings have attracted the location of industries, services and population in a strongly centripetal way, shaping a metropolitan area that represents 75% of the Catalan population and 70% of Catalonia’s GDP.
Despite the centrality of Barcelona for the region’s welfare and economy, political relationships between the capital and the region are traditionally tense. This situation has historical roots which date back to the transition of the country to democracy, and has shaped Catalan politics throughout the process of building regional autonomy. The 24 years of democracy in Catalonia have been characterised by the political rivalry between the most important political parties: the conservative Catalan nationalists (CIU) and the Socialists (PSC). The former has been the dominant political force of the regions government (Generalitat), while the latter is more powerful in the local town’s councils surrounding the City of Barcelona and the city itself. |
