The PSOE, between centralis and federalism

Abstract

Two variables must be taken into account when analysing the territorial issue in Spain: nature made up of the country, but without a federal culture rooted, and the presence of sub-state nationalism.

The combination of both makes both the debate as the political management of diversity will result in more complex Spain than in other countries. On the one hand, the majority national identity refuses to accept as natural the existence of an internal pluralism that goes beyond cultural, which contributes, in turn, to look with deep suspicion the particularist aspirations of peripheral nationalisms. Only in the first Republic (1873), Spain raised seriously become a federal State, without success. Only in the second raised seriously political autonomy for certain regions. But only during the new democracy in 1978 has been partially first thing and done the latter, even generating a permanent tension by above mentioned.