The Federalization of Spain

About this book

"The Federalization of Spain deals primarily with the process of devolution in the country, which was initiated with the transition to democracy after the death of General Franco. Since 1978, Spain has gone through a simultaneous process of democratization and decentralization. The first chapter discusses theoretical concepts such as centre and periphery, ethnic group, federalism, nation-building, nationalism and state formation. A review of the historical background of Spain is followed by the analysis of the transfers of political powers to 'historical nationalities' - Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia - and regions." "An explanatory model of multiple ethnoterritorial concurrence is put forward and refers to asymmetry and heterogeneity among territorially-based political formations. The final chapter of the book deals with the dual identity expressed by a majority of Spaniards, and future scenarios for a federalized Spain. The Federalization of Spain is discussed in a comparative framework, using the Spanish experience to explore the more general question of regional and national accommodation in states of plural composition. The Spanish case offers the possibility of formulating medium-range generalizations that can be extrapolated to countries of analogous characteristics."--Jacket.