The effort not to be small. Or simply to be

But we are not a small country. More precisely, we will only be a small country if we accept we are.

We must be aware of our limitations, which in themselves could definitively make Catalonia a small country. Scrawny. But they should not prevent us – for what we are and what we have –from building a country and a society of quality. An inward quality and deserving of outward interest and of respect. Even for the most demanding.

Denmark is a small country. And an abuse done for its history. It was the Great Empire of the Baltic and Northern Europe. It was still powerful in the early 19th century, but it slowly became hemmed in and was reduced to a small territory surrounded by enemies.

Later, well into the 19th century Demark set itself the goal of recovering everything it had lost abroad “from Denmark within”. Through good citizenship, social harmony, well run public institutions, social equality and competiveness it became a highly developed country. And with a strong sense of national pride.  A country respected by all, including its historical adversaries. A country with a message, capable of being a world player.

Catalonia has also had this ambition throughout her long history. Indeed, this has been at the root of Catalanism. Catalan nationalism. And it continues to be so. Compared with Denmark, Catalonia has the drawback of lacking the political power that goes with a state. But her project has been designed as if she did, as if she had a fraction of a state. And at any rate, this must remain her goal.

To build a country whose internal running, cohesion and cohabitation, culture and creativity will reach beyond her borders. That will be able make positive contributions to its people, and also be referenceand have significance outside Catalonia.

Like Demark, which focused its labour from Denmark within, but earned recognition and merit for its achievements from without.

                                         ----------------------

From this perspective, it is helpful and heartening, and gives confidence and joy to see that in the midst of the deep crisis we are experiencing there are concrete facts that confirm our vitality as a countryon a day-to-day basis. Facts that do not invalidate the gravity of the situation. Neither collectively nor in the dramatic repercussions for so many specific peoplewill we free ourselves from the distress that this is having. Yet these facts are proof we can continue to have confidence in our country. They fuel our hopeand confirm that we are a country well equipped to continue existing, to continue serving our people, with quality, andto be a reference outside Catalonia.

Here are four examples:

1. In culture.  At the end of last year Catalan theatre (written in Catalan and in Spanish, and translated, of course)had a presence in 21 countries around the globe. From Germany to Canada, France and the Czech Republic. This is unprecedented. “Our inferiority complex is at an end, says the Institut Ramon Llull says.
The importance of culture for Catalonia and Catalanism attaches special value to its internationalising outreach.

2. In business. The Catalan economy is successfully applying the 1990’s slogan “Our world is the world”.
The figures broadly speak for themselves, but direct knowledge of many companies, some of them very large, many medium-sized andsmall ones back them up.And above all, they help to understand the personal and business mechanisms that make this possible.  And they offer an even more positive image.

One such businessman who employs two hundred workers, writes: “I’m grateful to my father who twenty years ago packed suitcases, took planes and learnt foreignlanguages to open up our company to the world. Had it not been for him we would have closed down. Today our exports are spread across the planet and account for more than 90% of our turnover.”
Naturally, this business has closes ties with Catalan universities in questions of engineering .This is not an exception or a one-off. There are increasingly more companies like this.

3. No need to waste much ink here for obvious reasons: Barcelona is a city of global standing. In many respects. But the recent resounding success of the Mobile World has further underscored this and proves that the city’s attraction extends beyond its climate, artistic and architectural heritage and hotels and facilities, etc.And beyond the important yet unconventional and conventional congresses and trade fairs it hosts. Far beyond. The Mobile World Congress and everything that makes it possible opens the door to important upshotsin the fields of the new technologies. And investment.And this puts us on the map.
Barcelona could become the congress capital this year and for some years to come, vying with Paris (with Sarkozy in the background), Berlin (with Merkel), and Milan. In other words, a high level of competition and it highlights the level that city and the Catalan ITC sector has attained.

4. Over the last twenty years Catalonia has undergone a change of the greatest importance. Specifically in the field of research. Just a few figures sum it up:with 1.5% of the European population and 1.69% of its GDP, we have 3.02% of scientific production and 3.48% of the grants from the European Research Council. And 1.94% on the return from the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. And there has been a large increase in the number of centres given over to R+D. And Catalonia currently attracts –rather than exports as before –researchers from abroad of the highest calibre.To the extent that this has been echoed in the English-language scientific media, which has spoken of the Catalonian Powerhouse, based precisely on this scientificand technological development.
And this is a guarantee that our industry will be placed on a high level of R+D. Indeed, it already is.

    
None of this not means that many people living in Catalonia are experiencing a difficult time, suffering, and finding it hard to make ends meet. Times are extremely hard, as in most of Europe. And this problem will not be solved soon. Nor should we overlook the political difficulties of the moment.

It is important however that so many things are going well and are especially promising.

                                       --------------------------------
We headed this editorial “the effort not to be small”. And we added “or simplyto be”. And in truth we can only be if we are not small. We stand out not for our quantity, our natural resources or material potential. Because we are small in territory andin number and have few resources, and as such we are materially weak. Therefore, expendable. No-one will notice us. Nor will we take pride in ourselves. So we will be very small. And end up being nothing.

But we will beand will feel self- confidence and be respected and considered if we harness our spirit to overcome what we are and what we have, and with seriousness. If avoid the idea of smallness. If our ambition is ethically consistent and intelligent – that is, without being smug, inflamed or superficial-. We can only be, and be with consistence and resilience, if we reject being small.