ABSTRACT
As Juan Linz ( 1973, p. 33) observed, Spain 'is a case of early state-building where the political, social and cultural integration of its territorial components (nationbuilding) was not fully accomplished'. The first two parts of this chapter focus on the historical formation of the Spanish nation-state. After dealing with the Spanish monarchy in the early modem period and its relationship with various kingdoms in the peninsula, we discuss economic, social, and political circumstances that account for the emergence of regional-nationalist (mainly Catalan and Basque) movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The third part examines the current institutional structure stemming from the devolution process after Franco's death in 1975. The last section looks at those ways in which the current situation differs from the past as well as present-day minority rights, national symbols, and links between nationalist sentiment and concepts of democracy and citizenship.
