Elite and Citizens’ Attitudes Towards Territorial Organisation

Abstract

Spain has developed into a quasi-federal state over the last four decades. After Spaniards initial reluctance when the regional governments (‘Estado de las autonomías’) were created, citizens have increasingly supported political decentralisation. However, the surge for Catalan independence and the subsequent constitutional crisis provoked by the secession attempt in 2017 may have changed the attitudes of many, who are now much more critical of Spain’s territorial structure. This chapter confirms that the parliamentary elites are significantly more supportive of regional autonomy than citizens, and the gap in congruence has increased from 2009 to 2018. However, there are differences among the political groups: new parties are more congruent with their voters than traditional mainstream formations, but there is not conclusive evidence that ideology makes a significant difference in this issue.