La República Federal de Alemania ante el fin de las dictaduras ibéricas (1974-1976): miradas entrecruzadas

Carlos Sanz Díaz

doi:10.3989/hispania.2012.v72.i242.386

Abstract

The role of the Federal Republic of Germany as an external player in the Iberian transitions —mainly through its government, political parties, political foundations, and unions— has been highlighted since the first studies on the international dimension of regime change in Portugal and Spain in 1974-1975. This article aims to contribute to our knowledge of the «German factor» in the Iberian transitions by underlining Bonn’s perception of the Iberian Peninsula as a whole and by tracking the interdependencies that were established on the German side, in the analysis and in concrete initiatives, when tackling the crisis that was triggered by the end of the Portuguese and Spanish dictatorships. This is done primarily by analyzing both published and unpublished diplomatic documents from the FRG. This analysis provides an assessment of the German perception of the case of Portugal, as a precedent and as a testing ground for policies to promote democracy later applied to Spain.

Highlights

En enero de 1977 el rey Juan Carlos comentaba al canciller alemán Helmut Schmidt en el Palacio de la Zarzuela que el proceso revolucionario de Portugal había servido de ejemplo admonitorio para España
This article aims to contribute to our knowledge of the «German factor» in the Iberian transitions by underlining Bonn’s perception of the Iberian Peninsula as a whole and by tracking the interdependencies that were established on the German side, in the analysis and in concrete initiatives, when tackling the crisis that was triggered by the end of the Portuguese and Spanish dictatorships
This is done primarily by analyzing both published and unpublished diplomatic documents from the FRG. This analysis provides an assessment of the German perception of the case of Portugal, as a precedent and as a testing ground for policies to promote democracy later applied to Spain

Summary

Introduction

RESUMEN: El papel protagonista de la República Federal de Alemania, por medio principalmente de su gobierno, partidos y fundaciones políticas, y sindicatos, en las transiciones ibéricas ha sido puesto de manifiesto desde los primeros estudios sobre la dimensión internacional de los cambios de régimen político en Portugal y España en 1974-1975.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion