Mobilizations against the Iraq War in Spain: Background, Participants and Electoral Implications

Abstract

This paper aims to explain the nature of recent mobilizations against the Iraq War in Spain and their electoral implications. It first examines the evolution of the organizational features of Spanish peace movements since their emergence during the transition, linking them to both the broader evolution of the (leftist) social movements sector and the changing political context. The relationship between previous peace mobilization experiences and the spread among Spaniards of a peace culture is stressed. This ‘historical’ contextualization sheds light upon the nature of recent successful mass mobilizations against the Iraq War as well as their electoral relevance. The article also points out the influence of broader processes of change concerning political participation in representative democracies.