Whilst Spain is celebrated for its vibrant culture, historic sites and Mediterranean charm, it is also a country marked by internal convolution. Beneath the visage of rich beauty, pride of heritage, and picturesque landscapes lies regional strife and competing languages and histories. Continuing to challenge the concept of a unified Spanish state, the question is raised as to whether Spain is actually unified or rather continues to remain fundamentally divided?
The ‘unification of Spain’ as a nation was consolidated in 1492 with ‘Los Reyes Católicos’ (the Catholic monarchs). This brought together the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, forming a dynastic union of two crowns rather than a unitary state. This in turn did not resolve the inherent differences between Spain’s regions as the different kingdoms maintained their own administrative and legal systems. On top of their own language and cultural differences, it became clear that there were faults in both the theory and execution of the process of unification, with the inquisition demonstrating a regional defiance to be assimilated. Whilst under one crown and practising the same religion, with Catholicism being forced upon them through violence by the new monarchs, the different regions within Spain still strove to uphold their separate cultures and identities. Despite Spain’s consolidation as a world power through the years, internal tensions continued, and remain even today.
Spain is composed of 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities, each with varying degrees of self-governance. This decentralised structure can be attributed to the 1978 Constitution as, following the end of the Franco dictatorship (1939-75), the country aimed to balance regional autonomy with national unity. Nonetheless, territorial tensions and differences were not subdued by such legislation. In particular, Catalonia and the Basque country have been focal points of such strife, with both regions possessing their own languages (Catalan and Euskera) and distinct cultural traditions. If assessing Spain’s unity on the criteria of such elements, the country surely cannot be deemed wholly unified.
For many, the divide is most apparent in Catalonia. Having been at the centre of one of Spain’s most contentious political debates of the 21st century, Catalan municipalities have sparked interest in independence movements. Whether this dates back to the end of the Franco-era, or as others opine the financial crisis of 2017-9, it is undeniable that there has been a greater desire for self-autonomy separate from the rest of ‘Spain’. Holding symbolic referendums of Independence between 2009 and 2011, and a snap election in 2012 leading to the first pro-independence majority the Catalan Parliament had seen, independence has been at the forefront of Catalonia’s agenda. Alongside the recent ‘tourist-phobia’ in Barcelona, and pro-independence protests, it seems that tolerance always ends in intolerance, and that Catalan is resolute on maintaining its own cultural identity and self-autonomy separate from the rest of the country it sits in.
What is overt in assessing Spain’s question of unity is that inter-regional economic disparities further complicate the picture. wealthier regions such as Catalonia and Madrid are among the most economically prosperous regions due to strong industrial bases, tourism sectors, and fiscal contributions to the national budget. In contrast, less affluent regions have higher unemployment rates and rely more heavily on state aid which, in turn, fuels resentment as wealthier sectors maintain that their resources are disproportionately redistributed to less affluent regions. Whilst Spain has made efforts to resolve as such, investing in infrastructure and development in economically weaker regions to reduce the disparity gap, and promoting inclusive governance that respects the cultural and linguistic diversity, inter-regional discrepancy remains unsettled.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978, as aforementioned, can in itself be seen as both a step towards decentralisation and an attempt to unify the country. The Constitution introduced significant steps towards decentralisation through the creation of the State of Autonomies which sought to acknowledge Spain’s pluralism and historical diversity. Key elements supporting decentralisation include acknowledgement of the ‘indissoluble unity of the Spanish Nation’ but also ‘the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions’ under Article 2. Significant areas of governance such as education, health and culture were transferred to autonomous communities, empowering them to shape policies in line with their own cultural needs, with the establishment of regional parliaments and governments facilitating this.
Nonetheless, whilst decentralisation was, therefore, a central feature, the Constitution also aimed to ensure national unity through the maintenance of a strong central framework. Whilst it aims to give greater autonomy to communities within Spain, it also explicitly affirms the country’s unity. The constitution thus emphases that centralisation does not threaten the territorial integrity of the state. The transferral of power is seen by many as more symbolice in its gesture, with the Constitutional Court reserving key areas, such as foreign policy, defenses, and monetary policy for the central government, and acts as the ultimate arbiter of disputes between the central government and autonomous communities. As such, the policy outlined in the constitution hides behind the image of federalism as the central government retains significant influence and sovereignty over the entire territory.
Despite conflicts between the state and autonomous communities, many Spaniards still take pride in their shared history and cultural diversity. Cultural heritage and pride is derived from Spain’s abundance of art and architecture, language, cuisine and sports, presenting a unified pride to the outside world, even if not a wholly unified state in itself. This collective pride can momentarily transcend regional differences. Additionally, Spain’s decentralised model has been praised internationally for accommodating diverse regions whilst maintaining a cohesive national framework, with proponents arguing this pluralistic approach is a strength allowing Spain to celebrate its diversity without losing a sense of nationhood.
The question of whether Spain is divided or unified is clearly one which entails much contestation but may not have a definitive answer in itself. The nation’s identity is, in many ways, shaped by its balance of unity and diversity. Whatever the path of the future may be, Spain for now remains a dichotomy of centralisation and autonomy, its identity as multifaceted as the regions and people that comprise it.