Author:
Reid, Michael, author.
ImprintNew Haven : Yale University Press, [2023]
Imprint2023
Descriptionxviii, 315 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 24 cm
Note:Prologue: The Spanish mirror -- The unravelling -- A Catalan autumn -- The invention of Catalonia -- Why Spain is not France -- Let's talk about Franco -- The Basque paradox and galeguismo -- The fading of the Spanish dream -- Scandinavia in the sun? -- The 'caste' and its flawed challengers -- The narcissism of small differences.
Bibliography Note:Includes bibliographical references (pages 288-290) and index.
Note:"Spain's transition to democracy after Franco's long dictatorship was widely hailed as a success, ushering in three decades of unprecedented progress and prosperity. Yet over the past decade its political consensus has been under severe strain. A stable two-party system has splintered, with disruptive new parties on the far left and far right. No government has had a majority since 2015. Michael Reid overturns the stereotypical view of Spain as a country haunted by its Francoist past. From Catalan separatism and the indignados movement to the Spanish economy's overdependence on tourism and small business, Spain's challenges can often seem unique. But Reid is careful to emphasize the many pressures it faces in common with its European neighbors--such as austerity, populism, and increasing polarization. The result is a penetrating yet rounded portrait of a vibrant country- one that is more often visited than understood."-- Publisher's description.
