Spain in Crisis: Experience and Overcoming

This monograph, prepared by a group of prominent Russian specialists in Iberian studies, examines the challenges faced by the Spanish state and society in the late 2010s and early 2020s. The analysis delves into the complex sociopolitical landscape that emerged from the transition of a long-established two-party system to a multiparty one, alongside the systemic measures undertaken by the government in order to mitigate the devastating impact of the pandemic — the coronavirus-plagued 2020 was the most unfavorable year in Spain’s recent history. The authors describe serious economic and social problems that affected Spanish society as a result of the pandemic. Particular emphasis is placed on the phenomenon of a «rightward shift» in electoral preferences of Spanish society, as well as the growing role of small regional parties which complicates the formation of a stable government. The extensive factual and statistical material combined with the researchers’ analytical conclusions, provides a detailed picture of the country’s political life during one of the most troublesome periods of its development. This approach allows to assess the state of the Spanish economy in comparison with other EU countries, the real living conditions of different social and age groups, and, finally, demonstrate qualitative changes in relations with other countries, including Latin American ones. The scientific value of the monography is rooted in its multifaceted analysis of the mechanisms underpinning Spain’s adaptation to the challenges of a globalized era of instability.