ABSTRACT
The Spanish monarchy was a complex political entity, both enduring and constantly changing, that united a wide range of territories under the rule of the sovereign. Recent historiography has significantly changed understandings of the nature of the monarchy and its dynamics. This chapter considers these debates and their relevance to thinking about the monarchy as an antecedent of the liberal state or an example of imperial configuration, as well as whether it can be analyzed through the center-periphery model or that of multiple centers. Likewise, we consider early modern debates about the relationships among territories within the monarchy, with particular attention to Spanish America and the consequences of different forms of incorporation. In addition, we present the institutional framework of political administration overseas, noting both its general principles and the various institutions and authorities tasked with temporal and spiritual governance. Finally, we turn to current debates on the administrative dynamics that allowed the monarchy to maintain its dominion in the Americas, despite the distance, for such a long time. Within this discussion, key elements for understanding the nature of administration in the Indies include resilience, casuismo [an ad hoc approach], political negotiation, and reciprocity, among others.
