The Transformation Of Spain

These 15 studies cover the period from the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, to the coming of the Bourbons in 1700, concentrating on the themes of the social dimensions of religion, in the earlier period and the political consequences of dynastic change in the latter.

First published in 1989, Political Change in Spain provides a stimulating and innovative account of Spain’s maturing democracy since 1982. Challenging the accepted wisdom that Spanish democracy is a fragile plant, the author demonstrates its strong roots and healthy growth in the context of the European Community. He argues that, despite the problems of economic transformation, Spain’s political attachments to Western Europe suggest that the Spanish economy will benefit in the long run from its increasing integration with its neighbours. The book also analyses the continuing threat to stability posed by separatist aspirations in the Basque country, in the context of the experiments with autonomous regional governments. This book will be valuable to anyone looking for a succinct introduction to changes in Spain, as well as to students of Western European politics, women’s studies and the Spanish language.

Focusing on coalitional decision-making, this book explains the political effects of the transformation of the Spanish regime to a constitutional monarchy following General Franco's death in 1975. Some of the questions which this volume raises are: What happened to the old coalition members? What is their role in the new regime? Do they influence the direction of Spanish democracy? If not, why not? What have been the consequences of any coalitional realignment? Which new coalition members are facilitating change and which are preventing change?

This book provides a rigorously chronological journey through the economic history of modern Spain, always with an eye opened to what happens in the international economy and a focus on economic policy making and institutional change. It shows the central theme of the Spanish economy from the late 18th century to the early 21st century is the painful transformation from being a major imperial power to a small nation and later a member of the European Community and a player in a globalized economy. It looks in detail at two major issues - economic growth and convergence or divergence to the Western European pattern- and the permanent tension between the two when assessing historical experience since the industrial revolution. This book proposes new visions of the economic past of Spain and provides comparisons over time and space, which will be of interest to academics and students of economic history, European economic history and more specifically Spanish economic history.