The post-1975 transition in Spain

Abstract

The post-1975 democratic transition in Spain is analysed rather as a social, ideological and political dynamics following from a set of historical cleavages which intersect, annul, weaken or even strengthen themselves, than as a model. One by one, the author examines some of these cleavages which have left their trace in the past of the Spanish political system and partly go on structuring and conditioning it, i.e. Monarchy/Republic; Countryside/Town; State/Church (above all the dichotomy anti-clericalism-confessionalism); Center/Periphery (the regional problem); and, finally, the class divisions and the «nature of class» of the present Spanish parties. At last, the author studies the ideological question, focusing on the element which is nowadays considered essential - the «centrist» and «centripetal» character of this political system.