Spain's international challenges at the turn of the century

Abstract

A new study of Spain's external relations is called for owing to the various international challenges encountered since the end of the cold war. Many of these relate to the European arena (the single currency, eastern enlargement, reform of the EU in preparation for expansion), and to its unstable southern periphery, while others emanate from broader processes of globalization. Spanish foreign policy has become the subject of almost continuous adaptation, with policy preferences determined by an evolving balance and interaction between global, regional and domestic factors. The phase of integration into international bodies is now largely complete, allowing the focus of analysis to shift to consideration of Spain as an actor, concerned to use these bodies to serve its national interests, yet under growing international pressure to take on more responsibility in areas such as development assistance and conflict management.