European Socialists and Spain : The Transition to Democracy, 1959-77

The Socialist International was founded in its modern form in 1951, and was strongly committed to solidarity with people living under dictatorships. It therefore took a lively interest in underground Socialist movements in Franco's Spain. It is the prime example of an international Socialist organisation consciously acting as an external actor in the struggle between Spanish democrats, and especially Socialists, and the dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s. It is paradoxical that its particular interest in Spain was invited by the PSOE leadership in exile, yet it resulted in the international backing of the rival leadership of the underground inside Spain.

Pilar Ortuño Anaya’s European Socialists and Spain breaks new ground in the study of the international dimensions of the Spanish transition to democracy. She argues that specific individuals and organizations made a significant contribution to the democratization process. Dr. Ortuño Anaya establishes for the first time the role played by European socialist and trade union organizations, in particular the German Social Democratic Party and its affiliated unions, the Labor movements in the UK, and the French Socialists.

Pilar Ortuño Anaya{u2019}s European Socialists and Spain breaks new ground in the study of the international dimensions of the Spanish transition to democracy. She argues that specific individuals and organizations made a significant contribution to the democratization process. Dr. Ortuño Anaya establishes for the first time the role played by European socialist and trade union organizations, in particular the German Social Democratic Party and its affiliated unions, the Labor movements in the UK, and the French Socialists Annotation Pilar Ortuno Anaya breaks new ground in the study of the international dimensions of the Spanish transition to democracy. She argues that specific individuals and organizations made a significant contribution to the democratization process. Dr Ortuno Anaya establishes for the first time the role played by European socialist and trade union organizations, in particular the German Social Democratic Party and its affiliated unions, the Labour movements in the United Kingdom, and the French Socialists Pilar Ortuño Anaya breaks new ground in the study of the international dimensions of the Spanish transition to democracy. She argues that specific individuals and organizations made a significant contribution to the democratization process. Dr Ortuño Anaya establishes for the first time the role played by European socialist and trade union organizations, in particular the German Social Democratic Party and its affiliated unions, the Labour movements in the United Kingdom, and the French Socialists One of the most unknown characteristics of the Spanish transition to democracy has been the international dimension of the process and the impact and significance that external factors and actors have had on the process, particularly the role they played in promoting democratisation in Spain. Pilar Ortuno Anaya's book makes use of new archival sources and interviews with key participants in tracing Spain's transition to democracy.