The scope of the british policy during the spanishtransition: four key moments (1975-1982)

Abstract

On broad terms, the Spanish historiography underlines the United Kingdom’s low involvement in the process of transition towards democracy in Spain, being qualified as subtle and moderate or cautious. However, this article is focused on emphasizing the United Kingdom’s policy influence on the Spanish Transition by referring to three key points: the negotiations for Spain’s entry in the European Communities, the accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, and the Gibraltar dispute. Based on the foregoing, four crucial moments will be mentioned in order to highlight that influence: the beginning of the Transition, the conservative victory at the polls, the attempted coup d’etat of 23 February 1981, and the Falklands War. The analysis of those moments will allow to argue that the British policy towards Spain during the Transition played a noteworthy role on its exterior dimension following an increasing line of action in that area.