Date of Defense
12-6-2019
Date of Graduation
12-2019
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Gunther Hega
Second Advisor
Mariola Perez de la Cruz
Third Advisor
Karl Hokenmaier
Abstract
The peaceful transition from authoritarianism under Francisco Franco to a democratic constitutional monarchy after Franco’s death stands as a critical juncture in modern Spanish history because of the uniqueness of the historical event. The transition occurred without direct foreign intervention to manipulate Spanish politicians into passing democratic legislation; instead, the transition was initiated by Francoist leaders who willingly enacted the regime’s change which undermined their initial place in society. The Spanish transition was caused by three main factors: societal opposition to the Francoist regime, democratic international influence, and progressive leaders taking office after Franco’s death. This paper will explore the causes of democratic change in Spain and how each individually impacted the transition to democracy.
Recommended Citation
Haiser, Emma, "The Peaceful Transition of Spain: How Authoritarianism Became Democracy" (2019). Honors Theses. 3216.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3216
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access
Defense Presentation