Is Catalonia going to be Europe's newest state? Nearly 1.5 million Catalans took the streets of Barcelona last week calling for independence from Spain. Catalonia is recognised as a “nation” within Spain, but the country's financial crisis has exacerbated the region's independence movement. Catalans say their nation gives more taxes to the Spanish government than it receives and that austerity cuts have unfairly squeezed their economy.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to Clara Ponsati, Economics professor at Georgetown University; Alfred Bosch (@AlfredBosch), member of Spanish Parliament; and Carles Muntaner (@carlesmuntaner), professor at the University of Toronto.

What do you think? Is it a Catalan right to seek independence? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.