Received 25.04.2024. Revised 06.05.2024. Accepted 03.06.2024.
Abstract. The article examines the stages of formation of foreign policy consensus in Spain in the post-Franco period. Over the course of almost half a century, this consensus was violated only twice: the first time, when the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) government that came to power in 1982 held a referendum on Spain’s membership in NATO, and the second time, when in 2003, Aznar’s conservative government, contrary to public opinion, supported the intervention of American troops into Iraq. In Spain, a consensus exists on the main directions of foreign policy: European policy; security and defense policy, including NATO; the importance of the Mediterranean region, including the Maghreb; Latin America, and the fundamental role of the UN. Foreign policy as a government policy requires the highest degree of consensus because in this way it gains stability, predictability and authority. On July 23, 2023, parliamentary elections were held in Spain. According to their results, four national parties are represented in the Congress of Deputies: PSOE, the People’s Party (PP), the left-wing SUMAR, and the ultra-right Vox. The paper investigates the foreign policy attitudes of these parties, which will determine Spain’s foreign policy in the current legislature. Primary attention is paid to security issues. The author empathizes the proximity or coincidence of the foreign policy guidelines of the PSOE, PP and SUMAR regarding major issues. This imparts the foreign policy consensus a truly state character. Separately, the foreign policy attitudes of the ultra-right Vox are analyzed, these losing their original radicalism, although aggressive rhetoric remains. In general, it is difficult for the weak government of Sanchez to develop foreign policy for the medium and especially long term, therefore, short-term interests will continue to prevail, and the influence of domestic policy on foreign policy will remain decisive. At the same time, responsibility for building Spanish foreign policy lies with both the government and the main opposition party. Such a policy, based on international law and multilateralism, is for a medium-sized country like Spain the minimum guarantee of independence from major powers.
Keywords: Spain, foreign policy, NATO, EU, Latin America, Magreb, political parties, consensus, security, PSOE, PP, SUMAR, Vox, P. Sanchez
REFERENCES
1. Cherkasova E.G. The Main Problems of Spain’s Foreign Policy and the Position of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (1975-1986). Diss. Cand. Sci. (Hist.). Moscow, 1986. 217 p. (In Russ.)
2. Cherkasova E. Spain’s Foreign Policy Turnaround: Ambitions and Boundaries of the Possible. World economy and international relations, 2005, no. 8, pp. 65-76. (In Russ.) Available at: https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2005-8-65-76
3. Ortiz L. Ceuta, frontera y programas electorales. Ceuta tv, 09.07.2023. Available at: https://www.ceutatv.com/articulo/politica/ceuta-frontera-programas-electorales-que-partidos-politicos-acuerdan-ciudad-propuestas/20230709112323154670.html (accessed 18.01.2024).
4. Mohorte A.P. Qué piensa y qué propone realmente el programa de Vox para España. Xataka, 08.11.2019. Available at: https://magnet.xataka.com/en-diez-minutos/que-piensa-que-propone-realmente-programa-vox-para-espana (accessed 12.03.2024).
5. Soriano Palacios Ì. Elecciones en España: ¿qué proponen los partidos en política exterior? LISA News, 26.07.2023. Available at: https://www.lisanews.org/internacional/elecciones-en-espana-que-proponen-los-partidos-en-politica-exterior/ (accessed 10.03.2024).
6. Estrella R., Molina I. La política exterior del próximo gobierno. Elecciones generales en España 2016, Elcano Royal Institute. Available at: https://especiales.realinstitutoelcano.org/elecciones2016/textos/politica-exterior-espana-2016.php (accessed 15.02.2024).
7. Lamo de Espinosa Å. La política exterior del próximo gobierno. Elecciones generales en España 2016, Elcano Royal Institute. Available at: https://especiales.realinstitutoelcano.org/elecciones2016/textos/presentacion.php (accessed 15.02.2024).
SOURCES
1. Comparador de los programas electorales para las elecciones generales del 23-J. El Pais, 13.07.2023. Available at: https://elpais.com/espana/elecciones-generales/2023-07-13/comparador-de-los-programas-electorales-para-las-elecciones-generales-del-23j.html (accessed 18.03.2024).
2. El referendum del 12 de marzo de 1986 sobre la permanencia de España en la OTAN y sus consecuencias para el sistema político. Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales. Crónicas y documentación. Available at: https://www.cepc.gob.es/sites/default/files/2021-12/16347repne052180.pdf (accessed 18.04.2024).
3. Programa electoral del PSOE para el 23j. Available at: https://www.psoe.es/actualidad/noticias-actualidad/programa-electoral-del-psoe-para-el-23j/ (accessed 18.01.2024).
4. El programa electoral de SUMAR para las elecciones generales de 2023. Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.es/politica/programa-electoral-sumar-elecciones-generales-2023.html (accessed 18.01.2024).
5. Programa electoral para las elecciones generalås. ÐÐ, 23.07.2023. Available at: https://www.pp.es/sites/default/files/documentos/programa_electoral_pp_23j_feijoo_2023.pdf (accessed 12.03.2024).
6. Las 100 medidas urgentes de Vox para España. 07.10.2018. Available at: https://cadenaser.com/ser/2019/04/08/politica/1554730981_370802.html (accessed 12.03.2024).
7. Programa electoral para las Elecciones Generales del 23J de 2023. Vox. Available at: https://www.elnacional.cat/es/elecciones/generales-2023/programa-electoral-vox-2023-santiago-abascal-elecciones-generales_1059384_102.html (accessed 02.03.2024).
No comments