Raphael Minder landed in Madrid in 2010 to cover Spain for The New York Times just as the dark clouds of the financial crisis were about to burst into a full-fledged euro debt storm. A Decade as a Foreign Correspondent follows the turbulent and momentous events that have reshaped the countrys political landscape: a secessionist movement in Catalonia, the end of Spain's two-party system, and a desperate attempt to contain the coronavirus pandemic. With a correspondents keen eye, this book takes the reader on an extraordinary journey of discovery from the most remote corners of Spain, where an arid soil produces delicious truffles; to Moroccan hashish trafficked alongside migrants; to the historical repercussions of American nuclear bombs; and not least to the central square of Madrid, where Spain's radical left-wing movement was born. The book shines a light on Spain through colorful anecdotes that help explain the fraught present, as well as the charged past, of a nation that only returned to democracy in the 1970s. It offers an unbiased perspective on an emotionally-charged decade that has polarized Spain. This chronicle of the social, political and economic fabric of Spain is essential reading for all involved in Hispanic studies and Spanish culture. For diplomats, civil servants, and business analysts indeed for anybody focused and involved in European affairs this tale takes to heart every economic fraud, administrative incompetence and political misdeed imaginable. Published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, LSE.

Every year on 11 September, Catalonia celebrates its Diada, its National Day. But the Diada of 2012 was like none other, as an enormous crowd calling for Catalan independence took over the heart of Barcelona. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere that day, the people were very serious about their demands. On the back of this show of force, Catalonia''s governing politicians turned secessionist claims into a new headache for a government in Madrid that had only just survived a near-meltdown of Spain''s financial system. Four years later, the separatist challenge has neither come to fruition, nor faded away. This book looks at how and why Catalan separatism reached the top of Spain''s political agenda, as well as its connection to the broader European malaise generated by flawed political responses to financial and other crises. Through extensive travel and reporting, as well as over fifty interviews with leading Catalan personalities, Raphael Minder explains how Catalans feel about their economy, history and culture, and how secessionist forces have tried to reshape Catalan identity.

Every year on 11 September, Catalonia celebrates its Diada, its National Day. But the Diada of 2012 was like none other, as an enormous crowd calling for Catalan independence took over the heart of Barcelona. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere that day, the people were very serious about their demands. On the back of this show of force, Catalonia''s governing politicians turned secessionist claims into a new headache for a government in Madrid that had only just survived a near-meltdown of Spain''s financial system. Four years later, the separatist challenge has neither come to fruition, nor faded away. This book looks at how and why Catalan separatism reached the top of Spain''s political agenda, as well as its connection to the broader European malaise generated by flawed political responses to financial and other crises. Through extensive travel and reporting, as well as over fifty interviews with leading Catalan personalities, Raphael Minder explains how Catalans feel about their economy, history and culture, and how secessionist forces have tried to reshape Catalan identity.

Raphael Minder landed in Madrid in 2010 to cover Spain for The New York Times just as the dark clouds of the financial crisis were about to burst into a full-fledged euro debt storm. A Decade as a Foreign Correspondent follows the turbulent and momentous events that have reshaped the countrys political landscape: a secessionist movement in Catalonia, the end of Spain's two-party system, and a desperate attempt to contain the coronavirus pandemic. With a correspondents keen eye, this book takes the reader on an extraordinary journey of discovery from the most remote corners of Spain, where an arid soil produces delicious truffles; to Moroccan hashish trafficked alongside migrants; to the historical repercussions of American nuclear bombs; and not least to the central square of Madrid, where Spain's radical left-wing movement was born. The book shines a light on Spain through colorful anecdotes that help explain the fraught present, as well as the charged past, of a nation that only returned to democracy in the 1970s. It offers an unbiased perspective on an emotionally-charged decade that has polarized Spain. This chronicle of the social, political and economic fabric of Spain is essential reading for all involved in Hispanic studies and Spanish culture. For diplomats, civil servants, and business analysts indeed for anybody focused and involved in European affairs this tale takes to heart every economic fraud, administrative incompetence and political misdeed imaginable. Published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, LSE.

Every year on 11 September, Catalonia celebrates its Diada, its National Day. But the Diada of 2012 was like none other, as an enormous crowd calling for Catalan independence took over the heart of Barcelona. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere that day, the people were very serious about their demands. On the back of this show of force, Catalonia''s governing politicians turned secessionist claims into a new headache for a government in Madrid that had only just survived a near-meltdown of Spain''s financial system. Four years later, the separatist challenge has neither come to fruition, nor faded away. This book looks at how and why Catalan separatism reached the top of Spain''s political agenda, as well as its connection to the broader European malaise generated by flawed political responses to financial and other crises. Through extensive travel and reporting, as well as over fifty interviews with leading Catalan personalities, Raphael Minder explains how Catalans feel about their economy, history and culture, and how secessionist forces have tried to reshape Catalan identity.

Every year on 11 September, Catalonia celebrates its Diada, its National Day. But the Diada of 2012 was like none other, as an enormous crowd calling for Catalan independence took over the heart of Barcelona. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere that day, the people were very serious about their demands. On the back of this show of force, Catalonia''s governing politicians turned secessionist claims into a new headache for a government in Madrid that had only just survived a near-meltdown of Spain''s financial system. Four years later, the separatist challenge has neither come to fruition, nor faded away. This book looks at how and why Catalan separatism reached the top of Spain''s political agenda, as well as its connection to the broader European malaise generated by flawed political responses to financial and other crises. Through extensive travel and reporting, as well as over fifty interviews with leading Catalan personalities, Raphael Minder explains how Catalans feel about their economy, history and culture, and how secessionist forces have tried to reshape Catalan identity.