Spain

Spain’s recent history is marked by the negotiated political transition between 1975 and 1978 that transformed the country from a fascist-inspired, ultra conservative military dictatorship into a full-fledged democracy. The process culminated in the approval of the Constitution and the return of democracy in 1978. While the Transición sought to make a clean break from the past, it failed to address several demands for justice and reconciliation from those oppressed during the dictatorship. The transition addressed regional tensions awarding notable autonomy to regional governments, thereby accommodating them in a quasi-federal state. These arrangements aimed to recognize the historic national identities of the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia. The high level of autonomy awarded to the regions, which was even higher in the case of the Basque Country, did not prevent the continuation of terrorist activities by the Basque separatist group, E.T.A. Terrorism, together with the modernization of the economy and society and the construction of a welfare state, marked the development of the country until the 2010s.

In recent years, with the stagnation of rapid economic growth -especially since the economic crisis of 2008- and the abandonment of terrorism by the separatist group, E.T.A, the country and its political landscape has faced new challenges. While terrorism ended in the Basque Country with a mixture of police and political pressure, national unity remains challenged by some of the main political actors in Catalonia. These political actors demand their right of self-determination for the region, and challenged the central government by organizing a non-authorized referendum for independence in 2017. Moreover, widespread corruption scandals have notably undermined society’s trust in political institutions. The rise of new political parties, which represent more widely the different ideologies in the country, has challenged the bipartisan party system that emerged during the transition, leading to its collapse and to a scenario in which coalitions are necessary to form governments at the regional and national level. Currently, the national political landscape is much more fragmented, reflecting three main cleavages: national vs. regional identities, conservative vs. progressive ideologies and a rising one between the densely populated economic nodes on the coast and Madrid vs. the emptied central lands of the country (España vaciada).

In the coming 5 years, Spain faces the complex challenge of navigating fragmented politics and rising polarization. The inability to reach a broad agreement to renovate, let alone reform, the judiciary’s governing body, and the attempts to influence it by the main political forces, is a good example of how fragmented politics and rising polarization might affect the quality of democracy in the country. Although many democratic institutions are strong in Spain, the country has not been spared from the rise of extremist ideologies. These threaten recent gains in Fundamental Rights.  Of special concern are the potential attacks -which are already real at the regional level- to laws protecting LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights, as well as migrants’ fundamental rights.