Socio-political problems of Spain I (Problemas socio-políticos de España) 3305-PSPH1-1U

The course focuses on the analysis of recent Spanish history and the key social, political, and cultural transformations that have shaped contemporary Spanish society. Covering the period from the final years of Francoism and the democratic transition to the present day, the course provides the historical and social foundation for the analysis of current socio-political events and public debates developed in the second semester of the course.

The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining historical, social, political, and cultural perspectives. Particular attention will be paid to the processes of democratization, the development of the State of Autonomies, and the role of national and regional minorities, especially Galicia, the Basque Country, and Catalonia. The course also examines the social and cultural transformations that took place in Spain after the Franco regime, including issues related to women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights, historical memory, migration, contemporary culture, and selected environmental issues.

Topics discussed during the course include:
– from the final years of Francoism to the beginnings of the democratic transition;
– the governments of Adolfo Suárez and the UCD and the dismantling of the Francoist system;
– the failed coup d’état, the role of the monarchy, and the PSOE’s rise to power;
– modernization and social transformations during the Socialist governments;
– ETA terrorism and the activities of GAL;
– democratic culture and social transformations after Francoism;
– the governments of the Popular Party: from the Prestige disaster to the 11-M attacks;
– social liberalization and the development of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights;
– the Historical Memory Law and contemporary memory debates;
– the State of Autonomies, regional nationalisms, and political conflicts;
– the 2008 economic crisis and the Indignados movement;
– the crisis of bipartisanship and the emergence of new political movements.

Classes are based on the analysis of source texts, press materials, audiovisual content, and discussions concerning contemporary social and political phenomena.

Warning: some of the materials discussed during the course may contain content that could be distressing for sensitive participants, including representations of political and social violence, discrimination, erotic content, vulgar language, as well as social and identity-based conflicts. Please take this into consideration when deciding to participate in the course.

Term 2025Z:

Durante las clases los estudiantes se familiarizarán con la historia política de España, desde la muerte de Franco hasta el presente. El objetivo del curso es presentar diversas etapas que conforman la historia de la España democrática:

1. Los ultimos años del regimen - atentado contra Carrero Blanco.
2. La situación socio-política en 1975.
3. Gobierno Suárez.
4. La Ley para la Reforma Política.
5. Referendum y la legalización del PCE.
6. Primeras elecciones democraticas y la constitución.
7. El fin de UCD y el fallido atentado de Tejero
8. Victoria del PSOE.
9. España de las autonomías
10. Crisis estructural del sistema político español
11-15. Los temas concretos derivarán de los intereses de los estudiantes, en especial aquellos que orienten su trabajo de maestria a dichos temas.
Un especial interés existe por:
Cambio social y transformaciones económicas en España desde 1975
El mito de la transición democrática
Desarrollismo neoliberal del PSOE
Postfranquismo de PP
El Estado y el espacio religioso
Identidades, nación y nacionalismo en España contemporánea
Sociedades urbanas y cultura popular.
El crisis económico, social y político desde 2008
Nacionalismos: catalán, vasco y gallego

Course coordinators

Maria Boguszewicz

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

General:

Classroom

Term 2025Z:

Remote learning

Term 2026Z:

Remote learning

Prerequisites (description)

The course assumes students’ basic familiarity with the history and culture of Spain acquired during previous stages of study. The course serves as an introduction to the analysis of contemporary socio-political issues in Spain and provides the foundation for further classes devoted to current events and public debates in Spain. Participants are expected to engage with source texts, audiovisual materials, and active discussions concerning contemporary social, political, and cultural phenomena.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE [the student knows and understands]
K_W01: the subject-specific and methodological characteristics of Iberian Studies, which they are able to develop creatively and apply in professional practice; terminology related to Iberian Studies, especially in its social, political, and cultural dimensions, at an advanced level
K_W02: the connections between Iberian Studies and the humanities and social sciences, particularly from non-hegemonic and anti-systemic perspectives
K_W03: the basic concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law, as well as the need to manage intellectual property resources
K_W04: scientific and cultural phenomena in Poland and Spain, and in particular possesses in-depth knowledge of the connections between recent research and trends in Spanish history and culture and other humanistic discourses
K_W05: terminology, theory, and methodology in the field of Spanish history and culture relevant to Iberian Studies
K_W06: contemporary achievements of research centres and scholarly schools in the field of cultural studies relevant to Iberian Studies
SKILLS [the student is able to]
K_U01: apply acquired research skills, including the critical analysis of cultural products and social phenomena in Spain, the synthesis of diverse ideas and viewpoints, the selection of methods and construction of research tools, as well as the preparation and presentation of research results, enabling original solutions to complex problems in cultural studies relevant to Iberian Studies
K_U02: independently acquire knowledge in the field of Iberian Studies, expand research skills, and undertake autonomous actions aimed at developing their abilities and managing their own professional career
K_U03: apply acquired language skills in understanding and producing oral and written texts using specialised terminology
SOCIAL COMPETENCES [the student is ready to]
K_K01: critically evaluate their own knowledge and skills and understand the need for continuous self-improvement and development

Assessment criteria

Regular preparation for each class is required. As part of independent work, participants are expected to engage with materials assigned by the instructor (academic and non-academic texts, press materials, historical sources, and audiovisual content) and conduct independent research on selected topics related to the course. Preparation is assessed continuously throughout the semester.
The final grade consists of two components:
1. Quizzes – 50% of the final grade
At the beginning of each class, a short written quiz is conducted (completed by hand on provided forms). Each quiz consists of three open-ended questions requiring brief answers:
– two questions concern the material prepared for the current class;
– one question concerns topics discussed during previous classes.
Each question is worth a maximum of 1 point (3 points in total per quiz). Points obtained from all quizzes are accumulated. The maximum number of points that can be obtained during the semester is 45.
Quizzes cannot be retaken or completed at a later date. Participants arriving after the beginning of class lose the opportunity to take the quiz scheduled for that session. Missed quizzes cannot be made up.
Points obtained from quizzes are converted into grades according to the following scale:
– 39–45 points – grade 5.0
– 35–38 points – grade 4.5
– 31–34 points – grade 4.0
– 27–30 points – grade 3.5
– 23–26 points – grade 3.0
– 0–22 points – grade 2.0
2. Final examination – 50% of the final grade
The final examination is written and covers all material discussed during the semester. It consists of closed-ended multiple-choice questions (single correct answer).
The final course grade is calculated as a weighted average of both components according to the proportions indicated above.
Attendance policy:
A maximum of two unexcused absences is permitted. Total absences may not exceed 50% of classes; exceeding this threshold results in the participant not receiving a final grade for the course.
In justified cases involving participants with special educational needs, alternative forms of assessment may be established instead of quizzes. Such arrangements are determined individually.
Use of artificial intelligence tools:
The use of artificial intelligence tools as support in course preparation (e.g. organizing notes, translating materials, or searching for information) is permitted, provided that such tools are used critically and responsibly. Submitting AI-generated content as one’s own work or replacing independent analysis of course materials with AI-generated outputs is not permitted. Participants are required to disclose any use of AI tools in assessed assignments or other forms of evaluation. In matters not regulated herein, the general University of Warsaw guidelines concerning the use of artificial intelligence tools shall apply.

Practical placement

Bibliography

Bernuz Benéitez, María José (2020) “La instrumentalización de los animales para el logro de objetivos políticos: el debate parlamentario sobre los toros en España”. Derecho Animal (Forum of Animal Law Studies), vol. 11/3, pp.: 11-38: https://revistes.uab.cat/da/article/view/v11-n3-bernuz/504-pdf-es
Boguszewicz, Maria (2014) “Droga do autonomii: Katalonia, Kraj Basków i Galicja jako przykład emancypacji kultur mniejszościowych”. A. W. Brzezińska i J. Schmidt (red.) Regiony i regionalizmy w Europie: Badania – Kreacje – Popularyzacje. Wrocław: Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze: 101-113.
Cabrales, Antonio, et al. (Coord.) La educación en España. una visión académica, Fedea Monografías: https://www.academia.edu/29856727/La_educación_en_España
Corcuera, José Ignacio (2018) “Pedradas al fútbol femenino en España”. Cuadernos de Fútbol, núm. 97: http://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2018/04/pedradas-al-futbol-femenino-en-espana/
Desrues, Thierry, et al. (2009) Public Opinion about Inmigration in Spain: Utilitarian, Cultural and Pluralist trends, Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados: https://www.academia.edu/80384515/Public_Opinion_About_Inmigration_in_Spain_Utilitarian_Cultural_and_Pluralist_Trends
Elizalde-San Miguel, Begoña (2014) “La investigación sobre la familia en España: un diálogo necesario entre pasado y presente”. Revista de Investigación Social, núm. 11, pp.: 123-157: https://www.academia.edu/10670814/La_investigación_sobre_la_familia_en_España
Fernández Steinko, Antonio (2019) La economía del narcotráfico en España: cantidades y destinos: https://www.academia.edu/40241547/La_econom%C3%ADa_del_narcotráfico_en_España_cantidades_y_destinos_1
Martínez del Olmo, Almudena (2017) “Tendencias recientes de la política de vivienda en España”. Cuadernos de relaciones laborales, núm. 35(1), pp.: 15-41: https://www.academia.edu/98970796/Tendencias_recientes_de_la_pol%C3%ADtica_de_vivienda_en_España
Ramos Palomo, Dorlores (2000) “Identidad de género, feminismo y movimientos sociales en España”. Historia contemporánea, núm. 21, pp: 523-552: https://ojs.ehu.eus/index.php/HC/article/view/15908/13818
Powell, Charles (2003) “El Rey y la Monarquía en la transición a la democracia en España”. Aportes, núm. 53, vol. XVIII, pp.: 4-15: https://www.academia.edu/38804466/El_Rey_y_la_Monarqu%C3%ADa_en_la_transición_a_la_democracia_en_España
VV.AA. (2011) Economía del cambio climático. Colegio de Economistas de Madrid, núm. 127: https://privado.cemad.es/revistas/online/Revistas/0127.pdf/144

Term 2025Z:

José Álvarez Junco, Mater Dolorosa. La idea de España, Taurus, Madrid 2001
Bel Germa, España, capital París, Destino, Barcelona 2012
Bartolomé Bennassar, Historia de los españoles II, Crítica, Barcelona 1989
W. Callahan, La Iglesia católica en España, Critica, Barcelona 2002
El camino de la libertad tom 1-7, Planeta, Madrid 2008
La España de los nacionalismos y autonomías, Sigma, Madrid 2003
Miłkowski Tadeusz ,„La Polonia de los hermanos Kaczyński y la España de Zapatero: en las antípodas de la europeidad” , w: El cambio de la imagen mutua de Polonia y España después de la Transición, Instituto Cervantes
Tadeusz Milkowski, Kościół w społeczeństwie hiszpańskim XIX i XX wieku. Od mnichów na wojnie do wojny z mnichami, Oficyna Wydawnicza Leksem, Łask 2006
Complementaria:
Pere Ysàs. La Transición española. Luces y sombras
Ayer 79/2010 (3)

Los siguientes textos en: Nación y nacionalismos en la España de las autonomías. Isidro Sepúlveda Muñoz (editor). Madrid:Centro de Estudios Políticos y constitucionales/Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2018

Andrés de Blas Guerrero. El PSOE y la cuestión nacional

Fernando Molina. El camino de la secesión. Nacionalización de masas e independentismo, 1975-2017

Gaizka Fernández Soldevilla. Matar por la patria. Nacionalismo radical y violencia terrorista en España (1958-2018).

Ismael Saz. ¿Nación de regiones? Las Españas de los franquistas

Cayo Sastre García. La transición política en España: Una sociedad desmovilizada,

Candela Sevila y Virgilio Francisco. Cuarenta años de democracia en España: Análisis de las interpretaciones histórico- políticas del proceso de transición (1977-2017). En-Contexto Revista de Investigación en Administración, Contabilidad, Economía y Sociedad, vol. 6, núm. 8, 2018.

Jordi Canal. Entre el autonomismo y la independencia: nacionalismo, nación y procesos de nacionalización en Cataluña (1980-2015). En Nación y nacionalismos en la España de las autonomías. Isidro Sepúlveda Muñoz (editor). Madrid:Centro de Estudios Políticos y constitucionales/Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2018

Antonio Rivera. «No un estado, pero más que una simple región»: el autogobierno vasco, 1979-2016. En Nación y nacionalismos en la España de las autonomías. Isidro Sepúlveda Muñoz (editor). Madrid:Centro de Estudios Políticos y constitucionales/Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2018

Aladro Vico, E. y Requeijo Rey, P. (2020). Discurso, estrategias e interacciones de Vox en su cuenta oficial de Instagram en las elecciones del 28-A. Derecha radical y redes sociales. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, (77).

Rafael Domenech. La economía española en el siglo XXI. BBVA Research, 2020.

José Antonio Pérez Pérez. Este es el tiempo del cambio. España 1982-1996. Una sociedad en transformación

Mariano Martín Zamorano. Nuevos actores de la diplomacia cultural: Ciudades, sociedad civil, RRSS y entorno digital. En Informe sobre el estado de la cultura en España 2020. Madrid: Observatorio de Cultura y Comunicación. Fundación alternativas