A Young Democracy? Youth and the Spanish Transition, by Duncan Wheeler

Following General Franco’s death, Spain embarked on a journey to become a fully-fledged democracy. This was facilitated by the relative youth of the Spanish population, many of whom had no direct memories of the Civil War. In 1982, the leadership of the Spanish Socialist Party, amongst the youngest of any major European party, rode into government with the slogan ‘Por el cambio’. In many respects a golden age for young Spaniards, they were also often the victims of unemployment and drug addiction, two of the major challenges to face the population in the 1980s.

In this lecture, University of Leeds' Chair Duncan Wheeler explores how and why a greater sensitivity to demographics and generational affiliations might nuance understandings of Spain’s young democracy.

The lecture will be given in English language.