Spain vs Portugal: the turbulent past and the complicated present

Abstract

Spain and Portugal – Iberian neighbors joined by the peninsular geography and disjoint by historical avatars. The Middle Ages were riddled with wars, domination and mutual resistance. The 16th century is characterized by marine splendor and territorial expansion of both nations that for the dynastic reasons lived through a controversial period of “Iberian Union” (1580–1640). In later times they had many coincidences: political and economic decline in the 17-18th centuries, fruitless revolutions of liberal court in the 19th century, fall of monarchies and existence of dictatorial regimes in the 20th century. In an almost simultaneous way (in the middle of the 70s) both countries initiated the transition towards democracy. From the 1st of January, 1986, Spain and Portugal turned into partners in the European space. At present Spain and Portugal are two of the European associates with major economic integration. Nevertheless, controversies as for maritime delimitation, ecology, shared use of water, energy, railway networks and road infrastructure exist between them. Despite a significant approach in many spheres it is not an easy matter to forget the traditional mistrust. Still there persists a suspicion of the Portuguese towards the Spanish and the Spanish indifference towards Portugal.