The Politics of Contemporary Spain (Routledge/Canada Blanch Studies on Contemporary Spain)

While Spain is now a well-established democracy closely integrated into the European Union, it has suffered from a number of severe internal problems such as corruption, discord between state and regional nationalism, and separatist terrorism. The Politics of Contemporary Spain charts the trajectory of Spanish politics from the transition to democracy through to the present day, including the aftermath of the Madrid bombings of March 2004 and the elections that followed three days later. It offers new insights on the main political parties and the political system, on the monarchy, corruption, terrorism, regional and conservative nationalism, and on Spain's policies in the Mediterranean and the EU. It challenges many existing assumptions about politics in Spain, reaching beyond systems and practices to look at identities, political cultures and mentalities. It brings to bear on the analysis the latest empirical data and theoretical perspectives. Providing a detailed political analysis in an historical context, this book will be of vital importance to students and researchers of Spanish studies and politics. Introduction : Spain Since The Transition To Democracy / Sebastian Balfour -- From Consensus To Competition : The Changing Nature Of Democracy In The Spanish Transition / Jonathan Hopkin -- The Monarchy Of Juan Carlos : From Dictator's Dreams To Democratic Realities / Paul Preston -- Corruption, Democracy And Governance In Contemporary Spain / Paul M. Heywood -- Using Terror Against Terrorists : The Spanish Experience / Paddy Woodworth -- Terrorism And Nationalist Conflict : The Weakness Of Democracy In The Basque Country / José Manuel Mata -- Convergència I Unió, Catalonia And The New Catalanism / Andrew Dowling -- From National-catholic Nostalgia To Constitutional Patriotism : Conservative Spanish Nationalism Since The Early 1990s / Xosé-manoel Núñez Seixas -- The Reinvention Of Spanish Conservatism : The Popular Party Since 1989 / Sebastian Balfour -- The Socialist Party In Government And In Opposition / Monica Méndez-lago -- Between Ambition And Insecurity : Spanish Politics And The Mediterranean / Richard Gillespie -- Spain In The New European Union : In Search Of A New Role And Identity / Mary Farrell. Edited By Sebastian Balfour. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Introduction Spain since the transition to democracy an overview......Page 14 1 From consensus to competition the changing nature of democracy in the Spanish transition......Page 19 2 The monarchy of Juan Carlos from dictator’s dreams to democratic realities......Page 40 3 Corruption democracy and governance in contemporary Spain......Page 52 4 Using terror against terrorists the Spanish experience......Page 74 5 Terrorism and nationalist conflict the weakness of democracy in the Basque Country......Page 94 6 Convergència i Unió Catalonia and the new Catalanism......Page 119 7 From National Catholic nostalgia to constitutional patriotism conservative Spanish nationalism since the early 1990s......Page 134 8 The reinvention of Spanish conservatism the Popular Party since 1989......Page 159 9 The Socialist Party in government and in opposition......Page 182 10 Between ambition and insecurity Spanish politics and the Mediterranean......Page 211 11 Spain in the new European Union in search of a new role and identity......Page 228 Index......Page 248 Introduction : Spain since the transition to democracy / Sebastian Balfour From consensus to competition : changing conceptions of democracy in the Spanish transition / Jonathan Hopkin The monarchy in contemporary Spain / Paul Preston Corruption, democracy, and governance in contemporary Spain / Paul Heywood The war against terrorism : the Spanish experience / Paddy Woodworth Terrorism and nationalist conflict : the weakness of democracy in the Basque Country / José Manuel Mata Convergència i unió, Catalonia and the new Catalanism / Andrew Dowling From national Catholic nostalgia to constitutional patriotism : Spanish conservative nationalism since the early 1990s / Xosé-Manoel Núñez The government of the Popular Party and the reinvention of Spanish conservatism / Sebastian Balfour The Spanish Socialist Party in power and in opposition / Monica Méndez-Lago Between ambition and insecurity : Spanish politics and the Mediterranean / Richard Gillespie Spain in the new European Union : in search of a new role and identity / Mary Farrell. While Spain is now a well-established democracy closely integrated into the European Union, it has suffered from a number of severe internal problems such as corruption, discord between state and regional nationalism, and separatist terrorism.

The Politics of Contemporary Spain charts the trajectory of Spanish politics from the transition to democracy through to the present day, including the aftermath of the Madrid bombings of March 2004 and the elections that followed three days later. It offers new insights on the main political parties and the political system, on the monarchy, corruption, terrorism, regional and conservative nationalism, and on Spain's policies in the Mediterranean and the EU. It challenges many existing assumptions about politics in Spain, reaching beyond systems and practices to look at identities, political cultures and mentalities. It brings to bear on the analysis the latest empirical data and theoretical perspectives.
The Politics of Contemporary Spain charts the trajectory of Spanish politics from the transition to democracy through to the present day, including the aftermath of the Madrid bombings of March 2004 and the elections that followed three days later. It offers new insights into the main political parties and the political system, into the monarchy, corruption, terrorism, regional and conservative nationalism and into Spain's policies in the Mediterranean and the European Union. It challenges many existing assumptions about politics in Spain, reaching beyond systems and practices to look at identities and political cultures. It brings to bear on the analysis the latest empirical data and theoretical perspectives.Providing a detailed political analysis in an historical context, this book is of vital importance to students and researchers of Spanish studies and politics. It is also essential reading for all those interested in contemporary Spain. Spain Has Made A Remarkable Transition Over The Past Three Decades, From A Dictatorship To A Firmly Established Democracy. The Progress Has Not Gone Unchallenged, By Reactionaries, By Regional Forces & By Both Domestic & International Terrorists. This Book Offers An Overview Of Current & Past Politics. The Politics of Contemporary Spain charts the trajectory of Spanish politics since the transition to democracy through to the present day, including the aftermath of the Madrid bombings