Module description
This is an advanced module which aims to present a detailed and critical understanding of Spanish politics. The backbone of the course will consist of a comprehensive overview of Spain’s recent political history. While the 20th century in Spain was characterized by a long and mostly stable dictatorship, the recent history of Spain has been full of political, social, and economic developments that are of interest not only in themselves, but also representative of general and pressing phenomena in contemporary capitalism. Transition and consolidation of democracy; economic crisis in 2010 followed by austerity policies and social protest; new political parties outflanking the traditional parties in the left and the right; a new far-right party in a country that was until recently considered the European exception; a vibrant civil society organized around mortgagers, youth, and women; among others. Lectures and seminars will explore these topics with a historical and comparative perspective. This course is essential for students who seek to gain a deep understanding of current economic, political, and social challenges in advanced democracies and of contemporary Spain.
*Please note that module information is provisional and may change from year to year.
Assessment details
One 2000 word essay (50%) and 2000 word take-home exam (50%)
Educational aims & objectives
By analysing the key institutions and actors in Spain, the students’ will advance their ability to develop independent and informed analysis of the contemporary challenges and problems with Spain’s democracy as well as with contemporary advanced democracies more in general.
Specific goals:
· To engage with some of the most relevant issues (economic crisis and welfare, political parties’ representation, the far-right, the organization civil society) shaping Spain’s contemporary political landscape that are also characteristic of other advanced democracies.
· To analyse the main actors in the Spanish political system, to understand their evolution and to explain how they interact with each other in contemporary Spain.
· To critically examine the evolution of Spanish politics since the transition to democracy, and to critically engage with the debate over the quality of democracy in Spain.
· To analyse, critically assess and understand current developments in Spain.
Learning outcomes
The objective of the module is to enable students to engage in critical and independent analysis of the political evolution and current situation in Spain, as well as gain a comparative perspective. The students of this module will obtain a deeper and detailed understanding of how Spanish democracy has evolved since the mid-1970s, and the main economic, political and social events that have shaped Spanish democracy since and that are representative of broader phenomena happening in contemporary market economies. By analysing key institutions and actors in Spain, students will advance their ability to develop independent and informed analysis of the contemporary challenges and problems with Spain’s democracy, as well as with contemporary advanced democracies.
Teaching pattern
Two hours per week, one lecture and one seminar