News and opinion

Jean-François Dupré discusses recent events in Hong Kong, where the central government has undertaken to impose its National Security Law (NSL). What is the likely impact on the democracy movement and Hong Kong's constitution?

What is the purpose of institutions in multinational states? Drawing on the experience of Quebec and Canada, Karlo Basta, University of Edinburgh, examines institutions as symbols, expressing specific visions of the state and the nature of the community it encompasses. 

Judith Sijstermans, University of Birmingham, highlights the disjointed approach taken by the United States in the COVID-19 crisis, exploring how the pandemic has enabled Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, to promote the state's autonomous role in domestic and foreign politics. 

CCC Fellows Coree Brown Swan and Daniel Cetrá's co-edited special issue has been published State and Majority Nationalism in Plurinational States. This comes after a CCC international workshop last February and our Majority Nationalism blog series last April/May. 

Professor Michael Keating of the CCC reflects on the results of last week's election in Spain, arguing that 'The Spanish model of territorial accommodating its nationalities, once a factor for stability, is now in crisis'

André Lecours, University of Ottawa, highlights the issues that shaped the recent Canadian federal elections, and argues that the result emphasise the divide between Western Canada and the rest of the country.

In 2019, we have seen two Spanish general elections, one April and another in November. Robert Liñeira, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, follows up his blog from April and analyses the November election. Arguing that the election verdict is similar to six months ago, however, this is the most polarised parliament in left and national terms since the transition to democracy.

Justin Trudeau has lost his majority in the Canadian House of Commons, a relative rare occurrence. Ailsa Henderson explores the drop in support for Trudeau's Liberals and asks what next for this minority government, and their opponents.

Two years after the independence referendum in Catalonia Daniel Cetrà reviews the current situation and looks ahead to the implications of the trial verdict.