ABSTRACT
The tradition-versus-modernity cleavage is idiosyncratic to Spanish political culture. It has permeated virtually all areas of societal behaviour ever since Spain became a nation-state. It is at the forefront of current political debates on the content and style of the political reforms being attempted by the Socialist Government. While opposition to Franco represented the forces of modernity, opposition to the new democratic regime represents the opposite. During both the authoritarian regime and the democratic regime, an all-pervasive ideological anti-regime opposition co-existed with more specific forms of opposition to the government. Opposition from outside was generally ideological anti-regime opposition. The success/failure of opposition to the democratic governments of Surez and Gonzlez has been conditioned by a competition for the political space at the centre of the spectrum. Challenges from the Left and Right will fail unless they can de-legitimise the Spanish Socialist Workers party as the natural party of democracy, moderation and modernisation.
