Politics and Society in Contemporary Spain offers a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of Spain today. Focusing on the second term of Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the dramatic defeat of the Socialists in the 2011 elections and the alternation of power to the conservative Popular Party, it underscores Spain's deep economic and political crisis. The contributors analyze Spain's political parties, parliamentary dynamics, territorial politics, economy and labor market. Additionally, they examine the relationship between the government and the labor unions, the 'indignant' protest movement, and the Catholic Church, as well as policy developments related to gender equality and the welfare state.
List of Tables List of Figures Notes on Contributors Preface and Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: Political Change in Spain, from Zapatero to Rajoy Bonnie N. Field and Alfonso Botti 2. The Long Adios: The PSOE and the End of the Zapatero Era Anna Bosco 3. From Opposition to Government: The Popular Party of Mariano Rajoy Alfonso Botti 4. Governing Spain in Tough Times and in Minority: The Limits of Shifting Alliances Bonnie N. Field 5. The State of Autonomies between the Economic Crisis and Enduring Nationalist Tensions Cesar Colino 6. Economic Reforms and the Labor Market: Zapatero's Endless Period in the Wilderness Oscar Molina and Alejandro Godino 7. The Relationship between Unions and Zapatero's Government: From Social Pacts to General Strike Kerstin Hamann 8. Youth Protests and the End of the Zapatero Government Carmelo Adagio 9. The Spanish Catholic Church from the Zapatero Era to the Rajoy Government Mireno Berrettini 10. Gender Equality Policymaking in Spain (2008-11): Losing Momentum Celia Valiente 11. The Spanish Welfare State from Zapatero to Rajoy: Recalibration to Retrenchment Eloisa del Pino 12. Conclusions Alfonso Botti and Bonnie N. Field