Demokratyczna Hiszpania w Europie

After Spain’s relatively peaceful and very successful transition to democracy, we have witnessed the emergence of concepts about new Spain and new Spaniards. At the same time, Spanish people, citizens and elites of that society, have begun to search for a new political model and for „normalcy” only in Western European countries. The triumphal entrance into the European Communities has considerably sped up the development of Spanish economy and society, contributing to consolidation of democracy in that country and substantially favouring solution of traditional “problem of Spain”. Both socialist and conservative parties have made successful efforts to modernise the country during their rules. The Spanish Constitution from 1978 recognised “nationalities” within the Spanish State, paving way for the establishment of pluralistic State of autonomous communities and regions. However, the question of relations between central authorities in Madrid and its regional autonomous governments remains very unclear causing political tensions and even provoking to terrorist attacks. New problems with political stability have emerged especially during the radically secular and clearly pro-European regime of José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero.