Editing Manuel Castells (section)

=== Catalan identity ===

Castells identifies as [[Catalonia|Catalan]] largely because of his connection to Barcelona, which is recognized as the center of the [[Catalan independence movement|Catalan movement for independence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barcelona |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Barcelona |website=Britannica.com |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref> He spent a large portion of his adolescence there, completing his secondary and beginning his college education at the [[University of Barcelona]]. Castells also traces his paternal lineage to the city. This aspect of Castells' identity is related to his resistance to Franco's oppressive regime. The [[Catalan language]] was not taught at school under Franco, and Castells' family, being from a Spanish speaking region of Spain, therefore did not speak it. However, he took the initiative to teach the language to himself while at University, which he states has helped him feel more connected to his Catalan identity. Castells is a Catalan nationalist, but not a separatist. He has expressed support for the Catalan Socialist Party.<ref>Castells, Manuel, and Martin Ince. 2003. “Manuel Castells: Life and Work.” Pp.8 in Conversations with Manuel Castells. Cambridge: Polity Press.</ref>