The Emotional Dimension of the Catalan Independentist Referendum in 2017

Abstract

In this article, we examined the emotional regime emerging in Catalonia as a result of the 1st of October 2017 independence referendum and determined the effect of emotions and cleavages, among others, on the decision to vote in this referendum. The emotional regime, which involves the articulation of normative emotions and dominant practices in political mobilisation, is interrelated with affective polarisation. Indeed, for this phenomenon to occur the presence of positive emotions towards the ingroup and negative emotions towards the outgroup is necessary. In Catalonia, the formation of both groups—pro-independence and non-independence—is the result of the evolution of the Catalan nationalist cleavage. We used four surveys carried out by the Equipo de Investigaciones Políticas of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EIP-USC) and advanced statistical techniques. Our analysis reveals that, after the referendum, there was an increase in positive emotional presence towards pro-independence actors, which decreased as the Catalan independence process—the procés—progressed. We have found that, although the variable with the greatest effect in voting decision at the referendum was party identification, emotions towards leaders and parties and the Catalan nationalist cleavage greatly influenced this decision.