The problem of separatism in Catalonia and the ways of its solution in the newspaper “El Mundo” in 2017 – 2020

Abstract

The article examines a problem of separatism in Catalonia in the Spanish media on the example of publications in “El Mundo” for the period 2017 – 2020. The choice of the study period is due to the fact that during these years there were political events that contributed to the aggravation of the political confrontation between the authorities of Catalonia and the government of Madrid. The article presents the results of an empirical study conducted by the author between February 2020 and September 2021. The aim of the study is to identify the influence of the publications of “El Mundo” on the formation of public opinion on the issue of separatism in Catalonia. The author of the article comes to the conclusion that a number of readers approve the idea that separatism in Catalonia poses a threat to political stability, expressed in the newspaper’s publications, expressing directly in their comments an agreement with the opinion of the editorial staff in “El Mundo”. For example, the following formulations dominate in the comments of readers: “I agree with the opinion of the editorial board”, “I trust the opinion of the newspaper”, “I think that the editorial board objectively covers the topic and completely trust the opinion of the newspaper”.