The European Union: Copyright Jill Margerison 2003

Spain: Small and Medium States in the EUby Jill Margerison

This lecture looks at Spanish contemporary policy making

4 areas are featured :

• Spain’s role in the European Union and wider standing in the international community

• Spain’s remarkable transition from authoritarianism towards democracy – relevance for Eastern European states

• Issues with terrorism + and nationalism

• Issues with the British enclave - Gibraltar

Historical Overview

• Spain was a poor agricultural country before the Civil war. After the war was over Franco instituted a policy of economic autarchy and protectionism.

• Beginning in the early 1950’s however Spain began to emerge from her economic and political isolation

• In the 1960’s economic liberalisation allowed Spain to participate in the global boom

Franco

• Franco = Head of the Government, Head of Sate Generalissimo of the Armed Forces and Chief of the only legal political party for nearly 40 years

• Franco’s death = close of a chapter and the beginning of a new one in Spanish history

After Franco

• Why was there such a problem for Spain when Franco died….?

• New beginning marked by Franco’s death - marked the debut of democracy and national reconciliation

Change for Spain

What occurred during this period - not just a top down the dismantling of the old Francoist apparatus and the building of a democratic system for Spain by the political elite … but ground roots emergence of a more popular complex civil society which effectively rendered the continuity of an authoritarian regime obsolete.

King’s role

• A key player in establishing this new beginning for Spain was King Juan Carlos

• symbol of the new generation - linked to democracy….

• symbolised what the Spanish called convivencia….

• ‘convivencia’ – means living together with others and connotes peace and tolerance – convivencia was the social rather than political expression of reconciliation.

Transition Process

• Symbols of national reconciliation and convivencia permeated the Spanish transition in a variety of ways

• First democratic elections - June 15 1977 • Virtually every major or minor party in the 1977

electoral campaign emphasized that national reconciliation was one of their most important goals.

 1978 a new constitution was drafted

EU Membership for Spain? Difficult for Spain to enter EU –

Politically, - authoritarian dictatorship under Franco’s rule. Founding 6 countries of the EU did not wish to be too become closely attached to a fascist dictatorship…...

Economically speaking Spain was still a predominantly agricultural country. It was largely underdeveloped and pursued autarkic economic policies until the end of the 1950’s.  

Spain eager to join EU

Spain requested association with the Community as early as 1962 ---- declined -- + European community treated Spain with caution.

Only with death of Franco that full membership became possibility

Spain applied in 1977 and accepted in 1986

Concerns from EU

• The integration of Spanish agriculture

• Dealing with the size of the Spanish fishing fleet and

• The implications of cheap Spanish and labour moving north.

Benefits for Spain• Joining the EU = large inflows of foreign capital• 1992 marked the peak of Spain’s new standing in

the world … + celebration for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America…

• in 1992 Spain hosted 3 major cultural events…. The Olympics… The International Exposition and The Cultural Capital of Europe , Barcelona, Seville and Madrid…..

• but certain criticism at the time that perhaps Spain had received too much too quickly ….

Comparing Change

• 16-17 years of EU membership has left a visible imprint on Spanish foreign policy

• Franco regime = Spaniards were encouraged to feel proud of being different from other West European countries…

• now Spain recognised as a full member of the Western community … and the two major milestones EU +NATO membership

Spain Security and NATO

• Spain chose to become a member of NATO and is now a full member of the international Western European community.

• Why ? Argued that neutralism and isolationism worked against Spain’s perceived role in world politics

Spain’s politico-security role?

• Recently… what we have seen …. In Spain’s contribution to security has been a EU player increasingly eager to raise it international profile..

• Talks prior to war with Iraq …. Spain was a key supporter of the US and the UK (in voice only) but nevertheless occupying a prominent position in talks on the Azores in the Atlantic….

• Spain working towards advancement in identity as a European and international power

Basque Region of Spain• What is the debate – contention for the Basque region of

Spain?

• Basques identity as separate people - Basque speakers call themselves Euskalduank … and there is a sense of separate cultural and political identity that has existed for many centuries in the area.

• Basque nationalism arose in the late nineteenth century. The problem with the Basque nationalism is that it developed into quite a violent phenomenon … Spain’s terrorist problem 

Geurnica

• What was the significance of Guernica?

• The bombing of the town Guernica in April 26 1937 shocked the world - no strategic importance at all.

• Guernica was also the first total destruction of an undefended civilian target by aerial bombardment.

ETA

• Radical youths revolted and the ETA was formed in 1959. (short for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, Basque Homeland and Liberty

• Initially this group concentrated on propaganda printing pamphlets and distributing leaflets.. the resort to armed struggle began with a shooting exchange in June 1968… and with the Eta leadership claiming that the Euskadi as a nation were occupied by a foreign army

ETA

• For decades, just over 50% of the 2 million residents of the Basque region in northeast Spain have wanted greater autonomy from Spain; they pursued a guerrilla strategies to gain attention and bring about the independence of their homeland…

• Since 1968 ETA has killed over 800 people… can we compare with IRA?

• - Terrorist issue?

Catalan Nationalism

• This model of nationalism emerged as one very different to that of the Basque region… in that it was a movement based around musician writers and intellectuals who led the campaign to restore and defend Catalan identity…

The Rock

• Gibraltar – the Rock – enclave under British control in the Gibraltar Strait - population of about 28,000 people…. enclave representing a fundamental strategic asset which the Spanish continue to make historic claim

• After Spain was defeated in war by the British the Utrecht Treaty of 1713 ceded the use of the territory to the British while the sovereignty was assumed to remain Spanish.

Franco and Gibraltar

• The issue of Gibraltar ranked high in Franco’s nationalist rhetoric frequent rallies around the flag periodically used by his regime to gather domestic support,

• after May 1968 pedestrians could cross only with permission from Spanish military authorities.. - isolate the rock from the Spanish mainland = Spanish labourers withdrew from Gibraltar and were eventually replaced by Moroccans… During the Franco years return of the Rock became a national obsession

Democracy for Gibraltar?• Subsequent Spanish democratic governments have

minimized the issue - 1984 Brussels Agreement between Spain and the UK agreed to lift the blockade against Gibraltar …

• From the Spanish perspective - democracy and European integration = easier for both the UK and the people of Gibraltar to return the territory to Spain voluntarily?

• 2001 strong relationship - UK PM Tony Blair and PM of Spain José Maria Aznar - a deal should be made regarding joint sovereignty of Gibraltar? Locals voted no but Britain and Spain govt responded that they did not recognised this vote… denying democracy…

• The question is whither Gibraltar ?

Spain and Morocco

• Morocco – Spain relations historic rivals• Spain hypocritical in wanting Britain to hand over

Gibraltar … since they refuse to talk to the Morocco’s about Ceuta and Melilla which were annexed by Spain and remain Spanish enclaves… 1497 +1580 but before Morocco was a state…

• Spain’s response- “they are democrats and can be trusted the Moroccans aren’t and can’t …” problems for Spain, the EU and now the UN

• October 2002 - withdrawal of ambassadors

Some Conclusions

• Spain as a democratic state -national sovereignty resides with the people + Prime Ministers are responsible to the parliament and not to the Crown

• Spain no longer has an official religion although it recognises the historical role played by the Catholic Church.

• Spain advanced from a peripheral position in Europe -substantial role in the European Union- international scale profile considerably raised