Španělský regionalismus, volební arény a umírňující se konflikt
Michal Šabatka
Regionalism in Spain, Election Arenas, and a Moderating ConflictThe aim of this article is to examine relation between national and sub-national level of party system development and related electoral competition in five significant Spanish regions – Basque country, Catalonia, Galicia, Navarra and Canarias Islands. The process of democratization in Spain was accompanied by emergence of autonomous regions and consequently by setting up of independent party systems. This fact leads to examination of political institutions in relation to both levels of political process. The theory of first and second order elections offers basic approach to study behaviour of political parties in both levels of electoral competition. Attached case studies of forenamed autonomous regions reveals distinct form of political behaviour in each examined area depending on relevant historical and socio-economic factors.
