The Consequences of Federal Origins Learning from the Spanish Experience

Abstract

Post-Franco Spanish governance represents a rare case of a stable multinational federation in comparative and historical perspective.1 In contrast to other multinational federations that arose from dictatorial rule, such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, Spain has not compromised its geographical integrity, and its federal institutions are still operating after more than two decades. Moreover, the first attempt to decentralize Spain in response to nationalist mobilization failed miserably, and led to civil war and fascism.2 This makes Spain’s peaceful and stable transition to a multinational federal democracy that much more remarkable. The question, then, is what accounts for the stability of Spain’s post-1978 federation?