Contemporary Spanish Politics gives fresh insight into the formal and informal workings of this dynamic southern European democracy. It thoroughly discusses the history, politics, institutions, parties, economy and foreign policy of Spain at an introductory level ideal for an undergraduate audience. Each chapter provides a research-based overview of the studied topic which can then be used as the basis for further research by students. The key themes of the book are: Recent history of Spain after Franco's death The political culture of the country The institutional framework Foreign policy including the reaction to the global anti-terrorist coalition The policy making process and the system of interest intermediation The party system and electoral process The dynamics of regional politics (emphasising Catalan, Basque and Galician nationalism) The political economy The external relations of the country within and towards the European Union, the Mediterranean and Latin America. With a focus predominantly on recent developments after the elections of Jose Maria Aznar's People's Party in 1996 and 2000, as well as a detailed account of Spain since the transition to democracy, this book