Richard Gillespie – författare

The electoral success of secessionist parties in Catalonia and Scotland over the last decade, together with Brexit and the support for Eurosceptic parties in many EU member states, have prompted a rethink of many taken-for-granted notions about politics in Spain, the UK and the EU. Secessionist parties in Catalonia and Scotland often combine calls for independence with support for the EU, but independence for Catalonia might entail the loss of EU membership. In the UK, Scotland voted for the UK to remain in the EU, yet it was forced to leave the Union along with the rest of the country: what effect has Brexit had on Scottish independence claims? Through comparing Catalonia and Scotland, this short volume aims to contribute to debates on, and advance knowledge of, visions of independence and integration, how they interrelate in Europe’s emergent political order, and what they entail for European integration and democracy in the EU.

The electoral success of secessionist parties in Catalonia and Scotland over the last decade, together with Brexit and the support for Eurosceptic parties in many EU member states, have prompted a rethink of many taken-for-granted notions about politics in Spain, the UK and the EU. Secessionist parties in Catalonia and Scotland often combine calls for independence with support for the EU, but independence for Catalonia might entail the loss of EU membership. In the UK, Scotland voted for the UK to remain in the EU, yet it was forced to leave the Union along with the rest of the country: what effect has Brexit had on Scottish independence claims? Through comparing Catalonia and Scotland, this short volume aims to contribute to debates on, and advance knowledge of, visions of independence and integration, how they interrelate in Europe’s emergent political order, and what they entail for European integration and democracy in the EU.

The European Union and Democracy Promotion (2002) offers a critical assessment of the strategy upon which the EU promotion of democracy and human rights activity has been based, along with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Contributors from a variety of European and North African countries show how the obstacles to political change in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are not only to be found within these countries, but also in EU member states such as France and Spain.

The European Union and Democracy Promotion (2002) offers a critical assessment of the strategy upon which the EU promotion of democracy and human rights activity has been based, along with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Contributors from a variety of European and North African countries show how the obstacles to political change in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are not only to be found within these countries, but also in EU member states such as France and Spain.

Since the death of General Franco in 1975, Spain has emerged from relative isolation to play an active role in international affairs. Membership of the European Union and Nato have been keys to Spain''s new prominence, although the country has also tried to build on its traditional "special relationships" with Latin America and the Arab world. This is the first thorough study of democratic Spain''s re-emergence on the international scene.By focusing on the relationship between external relations and domestic policy the book makes an important contribution to the literature on democratisation, as well as showing how Spanish foreign policy evolved between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s.While the book focuses on democratic Spain, its revisionist view of democratic transitions is of more general relevance. Democratization is seen as an integral process involving related, though not simultaneous changes in domestic policy and external relations. Only with the transformation of her external relations did Spain''s new democracy finally become consolidated.This book will be required reading for students of Spanish politics and will also be useful to those interested in the process of democratization.