The government and politics of Spain

Contemporary Spain is virtually unrecognisable compared with what it was like when General Franco died in 1975. Spain was then very much a marginal power, condemned by nearly four decades of dictatorship to Europe's political periphery. Since 1975 the country has undergone a dramatic political transformation. Often seen as a 'model' for the former communist regimes of Eastern Europe, Spain's post-Franco transition not only established a vibrant democracy but also managed to keep in check the deep divisions which had characterised the country for centuries. Yet, although Spain's transition to democracy has been the focus of extensive political and academic analysis, far less attention has been paid to subsequent developments. This book provides the first comprehensive assessment of the government and politics of democratic Spain, setting its distinctive features in both historical and comparative context. The book pays particular attention to the devolved and regional character of Spanish government, the role of the monarchy and the constitution and the evolution of the political parties since the downfall of the dictatorship.