The prestige of the minority nation

This chapter examines foreign relations policy as a key dimension of minority nation governments’ prestige and autonomy, comparing Québec and Catalonia. Québec has developed robust paradiplomacy since the 1960s, leveraging favorable jurisprudence (the 1937 Labour Conventions Case) and strong support from France to expand its international presence. Through incremental actions, Québec secured a seat at UNESCO, built bilateral agreements with France, and influenced multilateral frameworks such as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the 2005 UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity. In contrast, Catalonia&s;s efforts to expand its foreign policy powers – particularly through the 2006 Statute of Autonomy – were curtailed by Spain&s;s Constitutional Court and limited by EU structures that prioritize member states over regions. While Catalonia has developed cultural paradiplomacy and participates in EU committees, its foreign policy remains constrained. The chapter argues that Québec&s;s success stems from strategic timing and gradualism, while Catalonia&s;s broader, simultaneous demands met institutional resistance. Foreign policy is shown to be essential not only for economic and cultural promotion but also for securing legitimacy and support in sovereignty debates.