European Political Systems and Spanish Territorial History

Forms of Government

In a constitutional monarchy, the King is the head of state, although the power is held by other institutions.

In a republic, the head of state is a president who has been elected.

Lessons from the Second World War

12. What lessons did Europeans learn from the Second World War?

The lessons they learned were that they need to cooperate with each other and develop together to prevent future conflicts.

The Treaty of Rome and European Institutions

13. What were the objectives of the Treaty of Rome?

The objectives were to coordinate the economic policies of member countries and the establishment of a common market between them.

16. How is the European Commission elected?

The European Commission is elected by the governments of member states and has to be endorsed by the European Parliament.

18. What objectives should be covered by the EU by 2020?

The main objectives are employment, research and development (R&D), climate change, energy, education, and poverty reduction.

Spain in the Global Context

There are important differences between Spanish autonomous communities due to the historical and economic development of each region. The state must guarantee, according to the Constitution, the principle of solidarity and ensure the establishment of a good economic balance between the parts of Spain. To put this principle into practice, the state has launched various compensatory policies, such as the Compensation Fund.

Spain plays a key role in the promotion of the Ibero-American economy (with organizations like the Institute for Ibero-American Cooperation). Another factor of Spain's global influence is the language; over 100 million people speak Spanish, which is an official language of the UN and a co-official language of the EU.

The Historical Evolution of Spanish Territory

In the 3rd century BC, the Iberian Peninsula was incorporated into the Roman Empire, which was the first case of political and administrative unity (provinces). The Visigothic Kingdom inherited the Roman organization and set up new divisions called ducates. In the Middle Ages, the Muslims caused changes to the borders of the kingdoms. In the 13th century, the peninsula was divided into five kingdoms. Afterward, in the 18th century, the Bourbons arrived, and a centralist policy of territorial organization was instituted. In the 19th century, the territory was divided into provinces and regions. Finally, in the last century, the Constitution of 1978 established a decentralized 'State of Autonomies.'