Abstract
This chapter examines the evolution of Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) as federal political systems. Neither Spain nor the UK qualifies as a full-fledged federation, but an identifiable process of federalization has taken root in both cases. Unpacking the experience of political decentralization, the chapter examines the efficacy of current arrangements vis-à-vis the politics of accommodation, with specific reference to elements of symbolic recognition, self-rule and shared rule, and identifies ongoing challenges to the development of federalism in Spain and the UK. In discussing the origins, evolution and challenges of the territorial models in both cases, the analysis highlights the evolving practice of territorial reform in these political systems, notwithstanding the absence of a conscious federal teleology. The analysis shows that federalism—as an enhanced model of territorial accommodation—has much to offer both Spain and the UK, but hitherto remains a marginalized option for constitutional reform.
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Notes
- 1.
This was, however, limited by the Sewel Convention—a political convention that dictated Westminster ‘would not normally legislate’ on devolved matters without the respective legislatures’ consent.
- 2.
The 1998 Declaration of Barcelona was an initiative between Basque, Catalan and Galician nationalist parties demanding formal recognition of Spain’s internal plurality, including nationhood for the aforementioned territories.
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Anderson, P. (2022). Spain and the United Kingdom: Between Unitary State Tradition and Federalization. In: Keil, S., Kropp, S. (eds) Emerging Federal Structures in the Post-Cold War Era. Federalism and Internal Conflicts. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93669-3_3
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