SPAIN
A Modern Industrial Society
Spain is an industrial society
located in Southwestern
Europe, bordering the Bay
of Biscay, the
Mediterranean Sea, the
North Atlantic Ocean, and
Pyrenees Mountains. It
borders France to the north
and Portugal to the west.
• Although Spain is an
industrial country today, it
took years for its economy
to catch up with other
industrial countries.
• This is due to the fact that
Spain “failed to embrace
the mercantile and
industrial revolutions”
which caused it to fall
behind other countries
such as Britain, France, and
Germany.
• It has only been since the
second half of the 20th
century that Spain has
actually had a true part in
the western international
community.
•Spain has, for the most part,
held its current boundaries for
approximately the past 200
years.
•There is an ongoing dispute with
the United Kingdom concerning
the area of Gibraltar.
•It was conquered by Britain
in 1704. The Treaty of
Utrecht gave the territory to
Britain “in perpetuity” in 1713.
Despite this, Spain still calls for
the return of the territory,
despite the fact that the
people of Gibraltar oppose it.
SPAIN AND COLONIALISM
Spain had its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries when it came to wealth and political power. The
country took full advantage of this by asserting its influence throughout the New World. The empire
included most of South and Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern portion of what is today the
United States. It also included territory throughout modern Europe. Eventually, all of these territories
were either lost or sold.
Due to its limited economic and political power, Spain played a very minor role in colonialism during the
20th century. Its areas of conquest and colonization included the Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco, and
Equatorial Guinea.
CURRENT ECONOMY OF SPAIN
•Spain has a mixed-capitalist
economy with a GDP of
$18,000 per capita. This is only
80% that of the four leading
West European countries.
•The major sectors of the
economy include:
•agriculture (4%)
•industry (31%)
•services (65%).
•The most prevalent industries
are textiles and apparel, food
and beverages, metals and
metal manufactures, chemicals,
shipbuilding, automobiles,
machine tools, and tourism.
Growth of real GDP per capita in Spain from 19502000. Values in 1996 dollars.
POPULATION
• As of 2007,
– The Birth Rate is 10%
– The Death Rate is 9.8%
– The Rate of Population Growth is
0.116%
• Spain has one of the lowest fertility
rates in the world.
– 1.37 = average number of children per
mother
– One reason for this is Spain’s poor
Family Planning Policies, especially in
comparison to other national programs
in Western Europe.
• In order for a Spanish woman to receive
the same amount of fiscal support for
three children as a mother in
Luxemburg, for example, she would
have to have 57 children.
POPULATION
• Spain’s infant mortality rate is
4.31 deaths/1,000 live births,
one of the lowest in the world.
• Birth control was illegal until
1978
• Today it is still having its effects
on the population size.
– Married women under the age of
34 are highly likely to use some
form of birth control.
– Also a factor in smaller families.
MIGRATION
• Before the international
economic crisis of the
1970s, Spaniards that left
the country either
headed for the Americas
or Northern Europe.
• In recent years, just
2,000 Spaniards/year
leave the country
permanently.
• Although migration still
occurs, Spain is mostly
known today as a
country of immigration.
IMMIGRATION
• Spain has recently felt a great influx of
immigration.
– As of Jan. 2007, over 4.5 million
foreign residents lived in Spain (over
%10 of the population)
– Spain has the largest immigrant
population of any European country
• Major immigration from…
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Morocco (582,923)
Romania (527,019)
Ecuador (427, 099)
UK (314, 951)
Colombia (261,542)
Bolivia (200,496)
Germany (164,405)
Argentina (141,159)
Italy (135,108)
Bulgaria (122, 057)
• **Population totals as of 2007**
IMMIGRATION
• Reasons for immigration
boom:
– Geographical positioning
– Ease of entry and Open Door
Policy
– Strength of the country’s
agricultural and construction
sectors and the subsequent need
for cheap labor
• Spain is the most popular
destination for Europeans
considering a move to seek
jobs within the EU.
• This great influx of immigrants
has caused social tensions, but
has also greatly helped the
economy.
IDEOLOGIES:
MAIN RELIGIONS
• Christianity: Roman Catholics and
Protestants.
– Roman Catholics make up 77% of the Spanish
population, while Protestants are only 2%.
• Islam: Moors.
– 300,000 Muslims live in Spain.
• Judaism: Marranos.
– About 12,000 Jews reside in Spain.
IDEOLOGIES:
ROMAN CATHOLOCISM
• Roman Catholicism was the official religion of
Spain for most of 589-1978.
– However, at the beginning of the 1930s, there was no
state religion until General Francisco Franco restored it
as the official religion at the end of the Spanish Civil
War in 1939.
• Pilgrimages are made by many Catholics each year
to Santiago de Compostela and El Rocio to honor
saints.
IDEOLOGIES: CONFLICT
• Although ¾ of Spain is
Roman Catholic, only
about 30% say that they
attend Mass regularly.
• The Roman Catholic
Church still receives
financial support from
the state.
• The Spanish government
is now passing laws that
go against the Catholic
Church teachings.
POLITY
• Spain was under the
dictatorship of General
Franco for 36 years, until
1975.
• On December 27, 1978,
the Constitution of 1978
was ratified.
• Spain is now divided into
17 separate regions. Each
region is autonomous
and has its own rights and
government.
POLITY
• Spain has 3 levels of government:
– Central State Government.
– Autonomous Communities Government.
– Municipal Government.
• The legislative branch is bicameral and made up
of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.
• There are 2 main political parties in Spain:
– Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party: the oldest political
party in Spain. The current Prime Minister was
elected from this party.
– Popular Party: the conservative party.
POLITY
• Parliamentary Monarchy.
– The King is the Head of State.
• Juan Carlos I is the King of
Spain.
• Prime Minister of Spain is
José Luis Rodríguez
Zapatero.
• The Prime Minister holds
the title of President of the
Government of Spain and is
elected by the Congress after
being selected by the King.
• Corruption in Spain.