Catalonia Is a Country: World Heritage and Regional Nationalism

• Main Author: Landers, Matthew Worth, 1984-
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Oregon 2010
• Subjects: World Heritage areas > Spain > Catalonia; Catalonia (Spain)
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/10474

xi, 114 p. : ill., maps (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. === Since 1975, the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia has been renegotiating its political and cultural place within Spain. The designation and promotion of places within Catalonia as World Heritage Sites-a matter over which regional authorities have competency-provides insights into the national and territorial ideas that have emerged in recent decades. This study of the selection and portrayal of World Heritage sites by Turisme de Cata1unya shows that the sites reflect a view of the region as 1) home to a distinct cultural group, 2) a place with an ancient past, and 3) a place with a history of territorial autonomy. These characteristics suggest that even though many Catalan regionalists seek a novel territorial status that is neither independent of nor subservient to the Spanish state, the dominant territorial norms of the modem state system continue to be at the heart of the Catalan nation-building project. === Committee in Charge: Dr. Alexander B. Murphy, Chair; Dr. Xiaobo Su