Catalonia independence from Spain
1 Introduction to Human Geography | GEOG 201 | Section 599 | Fall 2019 Exercise 4: National movements (50 points) Due Monday, November 11, 2019 Overview National movement are on the rise around the globe. Such movements vary widely, from certain ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups seeking greater autonomy through electoral politics to violent conflict aimed at achieving full sovereignty. Although they vary widely in their tactics and strategies, these movements typically share the idea of a ‘nation’ that becomes associated with ideas of self- determination and territory. In this exercise, you will research an active national movement to better understand its motives, the mechanisms it uses for change, the degree of autonomy it seeks, and the outcome of the movement to date. Instructions Choose one of the following national movements: • Scottish independence from UK • Catalonia independence from Spain • South Sudan independence from Sudan • Crimean annexation by Russia • Kurdistan – compare Kurdish groups in different countries You may use whatever sources you wish to compile your report. It is recommended that you draw from the following types of sources • Peer-reviewed articles and scholarly books o You are encouraged to seek help from TAMU librarians to find relevant sources • Reputable web-based resources: CIA World Fact Book, Council on Foreign Relations, Encyclopedia Britannica • News articles and long-form journalism o These national movements were selected because they have been in the news recently • You should aim for at least five sources each for Task 1 and 2, ideally more • Please cite all sources in APA format. See this citation guide for citing websites in APA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide /reference_list_electronic_sources.html Submit your response as a Microsoft Word document or PDF https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html 2 Please provide responses to the following questions. Aim for ~400-500 words. Please use the top-level bullet points as subheadings in bold so that it is easy to find information (ex: your first heading should be “Historic origins of the national movement”). • Historic origins of the national movement o Paragraph of at least 4-5 sentences on the history behind this national movement • Motivations for seeking greater autonomy o Paragraph of at least 4-5 sentences that responds to the bullet points below o To what extent does this movement harbor grievances regarding the state from which they are seeking autonomy? What forms the basis for these grievances? o What sorts of territorial claims does this movement make? What sorts of resources and economic opportunities are associated with these territories? o What makes this movement consider itself a ‘nation’? How do social and culture factors such as language, religion, ethnic identity, shared history, or political ideology play roles in forging the sense of a ‘nation’? o What sorts of territorial claims resources available in these areas? • Movement mechanisms o Paragraph of at least 4-5 sentences that responds to the bullet points below o How does this movement seek greater autonomy? What are the roles of protest, electoral remedies, and political violence? What about other mechanisms for seeking redress of grievances (e.g. seeking international support)? How effective are these mechanisms? o Using at least three news articles, identify and describe at least one key event that cast an international spotlight on this movement. What was the event? What was the response locally, at the state level, and internationally? o What are some of the current activities associated with this movement? Who supports and opposes this movement? o How much international recognition does this group currently enjoy? How will my work be evaluated? o Demonstrated ability to conduct research and bring together information from a diverse array of sources (40%) o Demonstrates understanding of course concepts (20%) o Quality of writing (coherence, structure of argument) (30%) o Mechanics—spelling, grammar, proper citation format (10%)