Boston University in Madrid
Contemporary Spanish Politics (SP 345) Juan Maldonado
[email protected] General Overview: Contemporary Spanish politics has its roots in the current Spanish political system which begins with the political transition that took place in the 1970s. The Spanish political transition constitutes the historical-‐political process that took place from the end of the Franco regime (1975) to the proclamation of the Spanish Constitution (1978) which formal and institutionally established the democracy. It is a moment in history in which the Spanish people, institutions, powers that be, and political figures carried out of political reform by way of consensus, without which the dynamics of subsequent policy would be almost impossible to understand. This subsequent dynamic is constitutionally propelled in territorial spheres-‐ configuration of political decentralization in regions and autonomous nationalities-‐, in both regional and state electoral processes; in the formation and control at the regional and state levels of the distinct executive branches; in the role assigned to the diverse State institutions such as the Spanish Crown, the Courts and Parliament, the Constitutional Court, General Council of the Judiciary, etc. The main players of this constitutional dynamic are the political parties, whose ideological nature, structures, leadership functions, and internal democratic processes are those of advanced democratic societies. Thus, the course strives to transmit a comprehensive understanding of the current Spanish political life for better or for worse, with all of its virtues and defects, achievements and failures. We will devote Part Two especially to the current situation imposed on us by the economic crisis which has so strongly and decisively transformed the Spanish political panorama.
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Methodology: The main objective is for students to gain an understanding of both the nature of the Spanish political system and actual politics, the instructor present the distinct topics while utilizing the comparative method. In other words, the professor will present analogies and differences with the politico-‐constitutional system in the United States both historically and in current day. All of the coursework will be subject to comparison. In order for students to become familiar with Spanish politics, students will be given 15 minutes each day to ask the professor any question not covered by the syllabus, preferably related to politics, that arises from the readings or facts and events emerging from the press, television, etc. Grading policy: The final grade consists of a mid-‐term exam (30%), a final exam (30%), and in-‐class participation and questions (20%) and an essay to be turned in at the end of the course (20%). Course Content: The course consists of two parts. The first is devoted to learning about the State institution as a whole. The second part is devoted to learning about the causes of the current crisis and its consequences on the social and political system. Required materials for both parts of this course are available online. For a deeper understanding of the topics covered in this course, a bibliography of readings is available for each. Contemporary Spanish Politics
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CALENDAR PART ONE: INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS
September 9th and 11th: Topic 1: Introduction: From the Franco dictator to the political transition toward democracy. General explanation of the Franco regime and the transition given by the professor. September 16th and 18th: Topic 2: The Spanish state as a parliamentary monarchy. 2.1 Differences between parliamentary and presidential systems. The Spanish parliamentary monarchy and presidential rule in the U.S.A. 2.2 The role of the Crown • Fernández Fontecha, Manuel: La monarquía y la constitución / Manuel Fernández-‐ Fontecha Torres, Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán y de la Serna. -‐-‐[1ª ed.] Madrid: Civitas, 1987. • Menéndez Rexach, Ángel: La Jefatura del Estado en el derecho público español / Ángel Menéndez Rexach.-‐-‐1ª ed [Madrid] : Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública, 1979. September 23rd and 25th: Topic 3: The General Courts: Congress of Deputies and Senate. 3.1 Political representation and the electoral system. 3.2 Operations of the General Courts. 3.3 Powers legal authorities of the General Courts. 3.4 On the inefficiency of the Senate. • Molas, Pitarch: Las Cortes Generales en el sistema parlamentario de gobierno, Tecnos, 1993 • J.R. Montero y J. Garcia Morillo (1984): El control parlamentario, Madrid, Tecnos. • M. Sánchez de Dios: La moción de censura (1992), Madrid, Congreso de los Diputados. • M. Ramírez: (1978): El control parlamentario del gobierno., Barcelona, Labor. • Crespo, I (1997): El sistema electoral, en M. Alcántara, Política y Gobierno en España, Valencia, Tiranto lo Blanc. • Hernández Bravo (1997): Los sistemas electorales, en R. del Águila (ed) Manual de Ciencia Política., Madrid, Trotta. • Baras, M.; Botella, J. (1996): El sistema electoral, Madrid, Tecnos. Contemporary Spanish Politics
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September 30th and October 2nd: Topic 4: The Government (Executive). 4.1 Presidential election. 4.2 The Cabinet of Spain (Council of Ministers) 4.3 Ruling powers of the Executive branch. • Alcántara, M. y Martinez, A. (ed.) (2001): Política y Gobierno en España. • Bar Cendon: La estructura y funcionamiento del Gobierno en España: una aproximación analítica, in Autori vari, El Gobierno en la Constitución española y en los Estatuos de Autonomia, Diputació de Barcelona, 1985. • Menéndez Rexach, Ángel: La Jefatura del Estado en el derecho público español / Ángel Menéndez Rexach.-‐-‐1ª ed [Madrid] : Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública, 1979. October 7th and 9th: Topic 5: The Judiciary. 5.1 Constituional principles of the Judiciary. 5.2 Organization of the Judiciary. 5.3 Jurisdictional Organisms. 5.3.1 The Supreme Court. 5.3.2 The National Court. 5.3.3 High Courts of Justice. 5.4 The General Council of the Judiciary. • Borrego López, José: La administración del Poder Judicial, en Poder judicial -‐ 2ª época, n. 39 (sept. 1995), p. 9-‐63. • Díez-‐Picazo, Luis (1991): Régimen constitucional del poder judicial / [1ª ed.]-‐-‐ Madrid : Civitas, 1991. • Fernández-‐Miranda Campoamor, Carmen: El Consejo General del Poder Judicial: de la Ley Orgánica 1/1980, de 10 enero, a la Ley Orgánica 6/1985, de 29 de julio, en Revista del Centro de Estudios Constitucionales -‐ N.9 (1991). October 14th and 16th: Topic 6: Territorial organization of the State in Autonomous Communities. 6.1 Spain as a nation of nations. 6.2 From the centralized State to the decentralized State. 6.3 The Autonomous System: main characteristics and operations. 6.4 Spain and the debate over the articulation of its multinational nature. • Maldonado, J. España, una nación de naciones.
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Aja, E. (1999): El Estado autonómico: Federalismo y hechos diferenciales. Madrid: Alianza. • Castell, A. (1999): Temas de debate: la financiación autonómica. Financiación y autogobierno, en Idees, (nº 4). October 21st: Part One Exam PART TWO: POLITICAL LIFE October 28th and 30th: Topic 7: Some shortfalls of Spanish democracy. November 4th and 6th: Topic 8: PP: Breaking promises with scarce revenues. November 11th and 13th: Topic 9: The coexistence of traditional opposition and new social movements. November 18th and 20th: Topic 10: The "undemocratic" ways of economic politics. November 25th and 27th: Topic 11: How to make Spain the most unequal country in Europe. NOTE: The topics in Part Two will be distributed through two files. This schedule is approximate and flexible in nature and can be adjusted to unforeseen circumstances. •
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