Spain And Portugal In The European Union

Focusing upon the 15 years during which Spain and Portugal have been members of the European Union, this collection of essays addresses issues related to the anniversary which took place in 2001.

This book examines the involvement of Portugal in the European integration process since the country signed the Accession Treaty in 1985. The volume elicits how Portugal has grasped opportunities and challenges emanating from its participation in the institutional, regulatory and political frameworks of the European Union (EU), as these have become more intricate as well as intrusive. It scrutinizes the adjustments and transformations that have taken place in Portuguese society, politics and economics as well as in the country’s international relations, as engendered by its increasing enmeshment in the Community-building dynamics. It is divided into three main parts: • Part I focuses on the major changes within the domestic arena, notably on the political, economic and social fronts; • Part II addresses the adjustments that the Portuguese leadership had to make in order to secure the country's participation in key common policies and strategies; • Part III is centred on foreign policy and assesses and discusses the impact upon Portugal’s international relations. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of European politics, EU studies, comparative politics and those with a strong interest in Portugal.

As neighbors and early rival nations, Portugal and Spain have been associated for much of their histories. Yet despite their geographic proximity on the Iberian Peninsula and shared past, each boasts distinct social, cultural, and economic identities. Readers will examine the evolution of each country, witnessing the rise of their earliest civilizations, their dramatic rivalry during the Age of Discovery, their days as empire-builders, their struggles through authoritarian regimes, and their emergence as independent nations and members of the European Union.

This publication provides an up-to-date assessment of the political and economic issues and is valuable reading for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Spain and Portugal. Following decades of relative isolation under authoritarian regimes, the success of the processes of democratic transition in both countries paved the way for full membership in the European Community in 1986. Drawing on research by established scholars, Spain and Portugal in the European Union offers an original series of analyses of the development of Iberian politics, sociology and economics since the accession to the European Union.

Gegenwärtig erlebt der Süden Europas in der öffentlichen Debatte eine neue Konjunktur. Mit Vorliebe wird dabei ein europäischer Nord-Süd-Gegensatz heraufbeschworen, ohne jedoch auf seine lange Geschichte zu blicken. Wirtschaftlich und politisch unterentwickelt, unterschieden sich Italien, Spanien, Portugal und Griechenland nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg von den sogenannten westeuropäischen Gesellschaften. Zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts schien diese Ungleichheit überwunden. Nun droht die Schuldenkrise den Kontinent erneut zu spalten. Die Beiträge hinterfragen gängige Annahmen und Bilder von "Südeuropa " und ergründen, inwiefern der "Süden" einen homogenen Raum mit strukturellen Gemeinsamkeiten darstellt.

Perhaps more than any other European country, Spain has undergone a remarkable transformation in the post-war period. To the surprise of many, it has succeeded in making the leap from a predominantly agricultural and politically repressed country, to a modern European democracy with a diversified economy containing important manufacturing and service sectors. Yet, despite the fact that at the beginning of the twenty-first century Spain is the world's eighth largest economy, old stereotypes that see the Iberian nation as an inflexible, unchanging society, persist. As such, scholars will welcome this new study which challenges the picaresque and outdated notions of Spanish economic development, replacing them with a picture of rapid and profound modernization. Building upon the recent work of historians and economists, the authors provide a thoughtful and compelling overview of the subject that clearly elucidates both the positive and negative aspects of modern Spanish development. Thus, as well as charting the undoubted successes achieved, persistent problems - most notably high unemployment - are also explored. Written in a straightforward and engaging manner, this book engages with research from a wide variety of disciplines, and will be of interest to anyone with a specific interest in modern Spain, or a wider interest in economic development within the framework of the European Union.

Providing a wealth of primary source data on the European Community after the accession of Spain and Portugal, Alfred Tovias assesses the changes - demographic, economic and cultural - that have occurred thus far as a result of the third enlargement and posits that a further result will be the development of new EC foreign policies. Tovias traces the evolving character of the EC and, given the newest members' foreign policy affinities - and antipathies - explores the impact of Spain and Portugal on the Community's foreign economic policymaking. He also discusses present and likely future policies toward specific geographic regions. Although he sees an enhanced foreign policy profile for the enlarged EC, his data do not support the notion of a significant change in EC-Latin American relations, nor of a Mediterranean lobby.