Spain's Government, Cold War History & Global Agencies

The Spanish Political System

What is a constitution?

The constitution is the fundamental law that controls the Spanish government.

What are the powers of the state?

The powers of the state are divided into three branches:

• Legislative Branch: Makes the laws.
• Executive Branch: Enforces the laws.
• Judicial Branch: Interprets laws and judges those who violate them.

What is the political system of Spain?

Spain has a monarch (a king or queen) who is the head of state. The monarch's role is mainly ceremonial, but they also represent the country internationally.

The Cold War and Global Conflicts

What was the Cold War and when did it end?

The Cold War was an ideological confrontation from 1945 until the dissolution of the USSR. The United States led the Western Capitalist bloc, while the Soviet Union led the Eastern Communist bloc. The conflict did not escalate into a "hot" war due to the threat of mutual nuclear annihilation. Each superpower attempted to impose its economic and political system on the world. The Cold War ended with the dissolution of the USSR, the reunification of Germany, and the fall of the Warsaw Pact.

Name seven conflicts that occurred during the Cold War.

• Massacres in India
• The First Arab-Israeli War
• The Korean War
• The Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya
• The French defeat in Vietnam
• The Suez Crisis in the Middle East
• The Hungarian Revolution against communism

What are the causes of current armed conflicts?

• Internal territorial disputes
• Wars to control territories and strategic natural resources, such as hydrocarbons
• Widespread poverty among large populations
• Radical nationalist movements that use force to demand independence for their people

International Organizations and Development

What are the main international development agencies?

The main international agencies working in development include:

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
• WHO (World Health Organization)

Name key conferences on sustainable development.

• 1972: Human Environment Conference, Stockholm
• 1992: Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
• 1997: Climate Change Conference, Kyoto
• 2002: Sustainable Development Conference, Johannesburg
• 2009: Climate Conference, Copenhagen

What is an NGO and what does it do?

An NGO is a Non-Governmental Organization. These organizations work on development and humanitarian issues, independent of government control.

Examples of NGOs

• Red Cross
• Oxfam
• Greenpeace