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THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 11, 2017- Topic 2

Spanish steps
On the Catalan secession referendum
The long-standing conflict in Spain over independence for Catalonia has escalated into a full-blown political crisis. The legislature of Spain’s north-eastern region last week passed a law to back the October 1 vote for secession, consistent with the narrow electoral mandate it received on a promise of self-determination. Under its terms, a declaration of independence would follow within hours of the announcement of a ‘yes’ vote, no matter how low the turnout. 
In turn, the Spanish constitutional court, which had until now cautioned that a plebiscite would be unconstitutional, has swiftly declared the law illegal. A political confrontation is thus imminent, whatever the outcome of the referendum. The conservative government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had so far merely threatened to invoke Article 155, which confers extraordinary powers on Madrid, with a view to preventing the referendum. It is now gearing itself to suspend self-governance in the province, an approach that could raise awkward questions in a European democracy. In June, Mr. Rajoy had warned of dire consequences if authorities in Catalonia utilised regional development funding for expenditure connected with the plebiscite. But the separatists hope that Madrid’s hardline stance will further stoke a defiant sentiment against the national government. Such consolidation is critical for them since their support base has reportedly shrunk since the years of the Spanish credit crisis earlier in the decade, despite the enthusiasm for a vote on secession.
Although the constitutional court has invalidated the plebiscite, the prospects for the conduct of the poll appear more realistic, whatever its legal and political implications. Conversely, the confiscation of ballot boxes by the police, or their refusal to allow polling booths to be opened, seem to be more a theoretical possibility given the broader regional context. The European Union would undoubtedly distance itself from any secessionist demand in Spain; it was careful not to offer a carte blanche to Scotland on membership in the bloc during its 2014 independence referendum. It may nevertheless cause Brussels some embarrassment to remain silent on any overt obstruction of a popular vote by Madrid, especially as it has come out strongly against attacks on democratic freedoms in Hungary and Poland. A more likely scenario is that the Catalonian referendum would be treated as an informal exercise. The roots of the separatist conflict in this relatively affluent area are linked to a tribunal’s overturning of a statute for greater regional autonomy, as well as an effort to apportion the blame for the austerity of the eurozone debt crisis to Madrid. With some imagination, it should not be hard to tap into the currently improved economic prospects for Madrid to strike strategic compromises with Barcelona. Such a conciliatory stance is imperative considering the risk of a populist upsurge in a region where separatism remains a live issue.
Vocabulary
Conflict: a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.
Example: The eternal conflict between the sexes
Synonyms: dispute, quarrel, squabble, disagreement, dissension

Secession: the action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
Example: The republics want secession from the union

Turnout: the number of people attending or taking part in an event, especially the number of people voting in an election.
Example: He predicted a high turnout at the general election.
Synonyms: attendance, audience, crowd, gathering, showing, throng

Caution: say something as a warning.
Example: The secretary cautioned that economic uncertainties remained

Plebiscite: the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.
Example: The leading business association even advocated a ‘no’ vote in the 1999 plebiscite on the new constitution.
Synonyms: vote, referendum, ballot, poll

Imminent: about to happen.
Example: They were in imminent danger of being swept away
Synonyms: impending, close (at hand), near, (fast) approaching, coming

Invoke: cite or appeal to someone or something as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.
Example: The antiquated defense of insanity is rarely invoked today
Synonyms: cite, refer to, adduce, instance, resort to, have recourse to, turn to

Province: a principal administrative division of certain countries or empires.
Example: Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province
Synonyms: territory, region, state, department, canton, area, district

Defiant: showing defiance.
Example: She was in a defiant mood
Synonyms: intransigent, resistant, obstinate, uncooperative, noncompliant

Consolidation: the action or process of making something stronger or more solid.
Example: The permanent consolidation of peace

Confiscation: the action of taking or seizing someone's property with authority.
Example: A court ordered the confiscation of her property
Synonyms: seizure, requisition, appropriation, expropriation

Obstruction: the action of obstructing or the state of being obstructed.
Example: They faced obstruction in carrying out their research

Affluent: having a great deal of money; wealthy.
Example: The affluent societies of the western world
Synonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous, well off, moneyed, well-to-do

Apportion: divide and allocate.
Example: Voting power will be apportioned according to contribution
Synonyms: share, divide, allocate, distribute, allot, assign, give out, hand out

Upsurge: an upward surge in the strength or quantity of something; an increase.

Example: An upsurge in violent crime



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