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It was once hard to think as a Westerner, born long after the Second World War, that any of Europe's established nations could fall apart.

They all seemed indivisible; part of the natural order of things. Sociologists have a word to describe this phenomenon: reification.

But look at what is happening now in Spain.

The constitutional crisis in Catalonia is serious and appears to be getting worse. It remains a very confusing picture but this issue could quite literally tear Spain apart.

On Thursday, at one point, it appeared that the danger was receding.

Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, had briefed the press that a snap regional election would be called, but this did not happen.

He backed out because he had not received assurances that Madrid would not launch Article 155.

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The clause in the Spanish constitution gives central government the power to take control of an autonomous region.

In this case it would mean that Catalonia's institutions would become illegal, its government would be outlawed and Mr Puigdemont could face arrest and charges of sedition.

Forget dynamite - such a move is more akin to launching a political nuclear bomb.

There are, though, many questions about how article 155 could be implemented in practice.

A campaign of civil disobedience has been called by separatist leaders. Large numbers of people will likely take to the streets to protect key buildings.

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In its tool bag, Madrid could respond by ordering in the national police or civil guard - forces that are reviled by many Catalans.

Would they be able to carry out their orders without widespread violence erupting?

What about the military?

Would Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, seriously consider using such force to bring this fiercely independent region back to heel?

And could he?

Throughout Catalonia's history, such stand-offs have only strengthened the hands of the separatists.

A violent or forceful reaction from Madrid will, in Barcelona, have historical echoes of the bloody Spanish war and the fall of the city in 1939 to dictator Franciso Franco's fascist regime.

Whatever happens, the constitutional crisis is not going to disappear.

It can only - because of history - calm down, or flare up further.

Its seeds can be traced back to the dynastic union between Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabelle of Castile in the 15th century.

But the next 24 hours could be equally as crucial.

Historians may one day look back on 27 October 2017 as the day that the Spanish unity forged, arguably, in 1492, came apart.

What is needed now is flexibility and diplomatic creativity.

If those qualities are not found by both the central government in Madrid, and by the Catalan leadership, this crisis could very easily descend into something far worse.