Profile


Spain experienced in 1975 after the death of General Fransisco Franco the end of almost four decades of dictatorship and at this time, began to take the necessary steps to realise a political transition aligning it more and more with the democracies in Western Europe. The initial period was marked by uncertainty and sever tensions however by 1977, commiserate with the first free elections for over forty years, and in 1978 the acceptance of a referendum allowing for the establishment of a new constitution, the doors were open for a period of rapid political and economic transformations. The stability of the new government was tested with an attempted military coup in 1981, which was successfully repulsed. A subsequent election found the heretofore in power centrist party giving way to the Socialist Party under Felipe Gonzalez. The Socialist won following elections with smaller majorities and during this links between the main opposition parties developed. As frequently the case after years of leftist government there was a swing in the recent period to a rightist government with such, democracies frequently find and ultimately maintain equilibrium between conflicting positions.

Although the government is centralised in nature, Spain's 17 regions enjoy a rather high degree of autonomy. Regional identity and the power of self-determination is strong in Catalonia, and the Basque country and to a lesser extent in Galicia.

The joining of the European Community in 1986 followed four years latter with the joining of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation propelled Spain's economy into rapid alignment with the other countries in the European Area making for the economic successes and political strains found throughout the western European area.