Catalonia’s regional government passed a law on Sept. 6 paving a way for an independence referendum on Oct. 1. But whether it will happen remains unclear. The constitutional court in Madrid has ruled it illegal and blocked the vote. The Central government has also summoned more than 700 mayors who support the referendum and seized more than a million pro-independence posters in Catalonia. But Catalan leaders insist the referendum will still happen.

This is not the first time Catalonia has sought independence. In 2014, the region had a symbolic vote after a planned referendum was scuttled by the Central government. Luis Corteguera, professor and associate chair of Department of History at University of Kansas, joins Worldview to discuss the uncertain future of Catalonia.