Image of the "Ethnic Other" in Symbolical Policy in Spain (On Basis of Catalonia)

This work explores the image of the Catalans as an ethnic “Other” in symbolic politics of Spain. The scientific relevance of this topic is that it presents interaction of two conceptions: ethnopolitology and symbolic politics. The symbolic policy is one of the most important means of any state. It is directed on rising the certain feelings and emotions among the society and it has effectiveness in any type of political conflict. The goal of the research is define which symbolic elements are used for representation of image of Catalan as an ethnic “Other” in mass media of Spain? The important characteristics of the nation as cultural, political and historical elements are derived by the theory of national identity. Further, by the theory of symbolic politics the work revises how this national elements are transformed into symbolic forms in representation process. To reveal the symbolic elements of the image of the Catalan as an ethnic "Other" discourse analysis and semiotic structural analysis of articles from three national media in Spain: ABC, El Mundo, El Pais are used.