The dynamics of regional politics

A central aspect of the success of present Spanish democracy is its territorial definition as a state of autonomies (estado de autonomı´as). This compromise formula of the architects of the constitution remained the most important issue to achieve a lasting constitutional settlement in Spain. Indeed, the constitutional formula was so open-ended, that today there are growing calls for a further revision of the constitution to acknowledge the present reality of seventeen autonomous communities. The danger of such open-endedness spilling over into an unstable unresolved settlement is quite real (Villacorta Mancebo, 2000:88-102; Colomer, 1999:41). Indeed, the compromise formula envisaged only a restricted autonomy to the historical regions of the Basque Country and Catalonia. Article 151 allowed these historical regions to become autonomous communities with greater powers through a fast-track route. The main instrument to achieve such an autonomous community statute was a positive referendum on this issue. The constitutional architects also allowed for other regions, which were not historical nations per se, to achieve autonomy. Article 143 allowed for a slow route to autonomy with lesser powers. The dynamics of regionalisation fed by regionalism led to a somewhat chaotic emergence of seventeen autonomous communities between 1979 and 1983. Therefore, there is basically a two-tier system of autonomous communities ruled by either Article 143 or Article 151. After the Basque Country and Catalonia, a further five – Andalusia, Galicia, the Canary Islands, Navarre and the Valencian Community – were able to obtain the same status as the two most prominent historical regions. Among the five newcomers only Galicia can really be considered as a historical region due to language and culture. The other ten autonomous communities – Aragon, Asturias, the Balearics, Cantabria, Castilla Leo´n, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia and La Rioja – are still governed by Article 143 and have lesser powers than the other seven communities.