Spain’s Transition to Democracy: Culture, Politics, and Society
Culture and Attitudes
Life forms also experienced a major transformation thanks to the new freedoms that the country was experiencing. The process was often faster than the ability to assimilate large communities that had multiplied, so the conflict, often fueled by the economic crisis. Thus, while the media sought to advance the plurality of information, statements defending the extreme right or left were also published. The violence of both sectors (fighting in streets, universities, and even murders) and popular movements for political, nationalist, or student labor reasons were abundant.
Trends and tendencies of the developed countries broke with force, sometimes resulting in conflicting positions as in the case of the emergence of erotic scenes in film (so-called breakout), films with a clear content critical of the former regime and Spanish traditionalism (censorship was abolished in 1977), or the approval of the divorce law. All this was a symptom of a process of liberalization or social transition that ran parallel to political and economic transitions.
When the PSOE came to power in 1982, the world of culture had suffered a slump after the expectations created by the demise of the dictatorship; this is what is called the culture of disenchantment. Therefore, a revitalization and cultural modernization were initiated, recorded in the change project; a good example is the foundation in 1986 of the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid. These are also the years of the “movida” in Madrid.
At the end of the 1980s, a certain disappointment had returned to extend that led to postmodernism, to sink the Soviet bloc, and the collapse of ideologies.
In recent decades, there has been some intervention by governments in the media, mainly in the audiovisual sector (radio and television). At the same time, major media groups have been created that control radio and television stations, newspapers, magazines, and publishers, which have often been a politicized and media pressure. In 1990, private television came, which ended the TVE monopoly.
In 1984, a film law was passed, following which a new generation of directors, such as Garci and Almodóvar, were awarded Oscars, but in recent years, the number of viewers of Spanish cinema has decreased significantly.
Democracy has been a stage of artistic splendor, with artists such as Miquel Barceló, Eduardo Chillida, and Antonio Lopez, and architects and sculptors such as Rafael Moneo and Santiago Calatrava.
Democratic Governments: Challenges and Changes
The Socialist Government (1982-1996)
The key objectives of the PSOE, under the leadership of Felipe Gonzalez, were the economic modernization of Spain by restructuring the productive system, the extension of the welfare state with the expansion of social rights and basic services in health, education, and Social Security; modernization and democratization of government; and Spain’s integration into Western institutions (NATO and the European Union).
NATO membership was achieved after a referendum in 1986, and joining the European Economic Community, now the European Union, in January 1986, after protracted negotiations that came from the time of Suarez. This income resulted in the modification of many laws and regulations, especially economic ones (creation of VAT, customs laws, standards of production, etc.). European integration led to the consecration of Spanish democracy and a big push to modernize the economy and society.
One of the most pressing problems was the reform of the armed forces, with the dual aim of modernizing and ending the coup, so that coup attempts such as “Operation Galaxy” and the recent 23 F would not be reproduced. An Act passed in 1984 established a new strategic plan, reduced templates, and legalized conscientious objection. General Franco was slowly relegated to subordinate destinations, and key posts were replaced by younger military personnel loyal to democratic rule. Still, in 1985, there was a last military coup attempt, saved by the intelligence service, CESID 2, also renovated. The police have also been reorganized and renamed the National Police and Civil Guard, which maintained their military status.
The problem of ETA terrorism remained unresolved, although it was increasingly isolated (helped by the Ajuria Enea Pact, which integrated all anti-democratic formations against Basque violence).
The PSOE had an absolute majority in its first term, from 1982 to 1993. From 1993 to 1996, it had to have the support of nationalist forces. Among the social laws created at this stage are the Education Act (LODE), which decreed compulsory and free education until the age of sixteen; university reform, which increased the degree of autonomy of universities; and the decriminalization of abortion. Since 1992, the financial scandals of government officials and the creation by the police of a terrorist group, the GAL (Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups), who committed attacks against members of ETA, damaged the image of the PSOE, which lost the election in 1996. This is linked to a time of deep economic crisis that occurred after a period of prosperity from the late 1980s until 1992.
The First Government of the People’s Party (1996-2000)
From 1996 to 2000, the PP government ruled with the support of nationalist forces. From 2000 to 2004, with an absolute majority.
The party found voters in the center, leaving the leadership of Manuel Fraga and having the party led by José María Aznar. In addition, the PSOE was found with significant internal divisions that were highlighted by the resignation of Felipe Gonzalez as secretary general. The divisions continued until the election of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in July 2000 as general secretary.
- In addition to important laws, economic stability, joining the group of countries that accepted the euro as the single currency in Europe, rising per capita income, reducing the deficit, and reducing unemployment were positive.
- The differences with the unions were embodied in the June 2002 strike against the reform of unemployment protection.
- Another unresolved issue was the terrorism of ETA and the political confrontation between the Basque government and the government of Spain.