Susana Narotzky: Evidence Struggles

Legality, Legitimacy, and Social Mobilizations in the Catalan
Political Conflict Different kinds of evidence are put forward to
make an argument and justify political action by agents situated in
diverse social, cultural, and power positions. The Catalan
political conflict is a case in point. The central Spanish
government’s arguments are mostly of a juridical nature and rest on
the anti-constitutionality of the Catalan government and other
civil society organizations’ actions. Instead, most arguments of
Catalan supporters of independence are based on historical
interpretations of grievances referring to national institutions
and identity. While supporters of independence have mobilized
hundreds of thousands of Catalans in massive demonstrations and
have used media in a very efficient manner, the Spanish state has
mostly relied on legal arguments and the judicial branch,
epitomized by a televised macro-trial to the alleged secessionist
leaders. This talk argues that an important aspect of the political
confrontation is being played as an evidence struggle where the
various social actors produce different kinds of evidence to
justify their actions in the political arena and mobilize support.
Prof. Dr. Susana Narotzky, Professorin für Sozialanthropologie an
der Universitat de Barcelona Moderation: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Knöbl,
Soziologe; Direktor des Hamburger Instituts für Sozialforschung