Historical Roots of Regional Imbalances and Spanish Political Structure

The Origin of Regional Imbalances

The key factor driving regional disparities has been industrialization. These imbalances manifested across several macroeconomic and social aspects, increasing significantly with the development of industry and tourism.

Macroeconomic Aspects of Imbalances

Industrial growth attracted capital, particularly to regions like the Basque Country, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Levante, and Madrid. Imbalances were evident in the contribution of services to GDP, per capita income, and infrastructure development.

Demographic Imbalances

These were the result of the crisis in traditional agriculture and the subsequent development of industry. The primary consequence was the transfer of population from rural areas to industrial centers.

Social Imbalances

Economically more developed regions became more populated and received greater allocations for social services.

Imbalances in Power

These arose because the more developed areas became "core areas" while other areas h.

Historical Evolution of Political and Administrative Organization

Antiquity (Until the Roman Conquest)

The peninsula was inhabited by indigenous peoples with their own institutions and customs. Under Roman rule, an organization based on provinces was first established. The Visigoths later created an independent state with its capital in Toledo. They maintained the Roman division but established a territorial unit now referred to as the Duchy.

The Middle Ages

During the Muslim occupation, the territory was held in provinces, which later became independent territories. Meanwhile, Christians created their own political and administrative systems:

• In the Cantabrian Cordillera, the Kingdom of Asturias was founded, which subsequently led to the Kingdoms of León, Portugal, and Castile.
• In the Pyrenees, the Kingdoms of Navarra and Aragon, and the Catalan counties emerged.

Aragon and the Catalan counties joined in the twelfth century, forming the Crown of Aragon, which later incorporated the Kingdom of Valencia and the Balearic Islands.

The Modern Age

The Catholic Monarchs (RRCC) unified the peninsular territories, excluding Portugal. Castile and Aragon were united by the marriage of the kings. They conquered the Kingdom of Granada and annexed the Kingdom of Navarre. Despite this union, each kingdom kept its own political, administrative, and fiscal structures.

This situation continued through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries under the Habsburgs, maintaining a Hispanic monarchical unity based on a diversity of rights and governance.

The War of Succession and the Decrees of Nueva Planta

The attempt to centralize power came with the Bourbons during the War of Succession. When Felipe V won, he implemented the Decrees of Nueva Planta (New Plant), which suppressed the political and administrative organization of the Crown of Aragon.

The territory was subsequently divided into Capitanías Generales (General Captaincies) for government (later called provinces) and Intendencias for finance. Only Navarre and the Basque Country retained their institutions, having remained faithful to Philip V.