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Washington University in St. Louis

Publication Date

Spring 2025

Program Name

Spain: Social Movements, Democracy, and Cultural Identity

Abstract

This paper investigates the rise of populism in Spain, examining its root causes, political consequences, and potential strategies for democratic resilience. Spain presents a unique case of simultaneous left-wing and right-wing populist surges, embodied by the Podemos and V ox parties, respectively. Through a mixed-methods approach that includes a literature review and semi-structured interviews, the paper identifies economic inequality, political corruption, and cultural anxieties as the primary drivers of populist sentiment. It analyzes how these movements have reshaped Spain’s political landscape, such as dismantling the PSOE and PP duopoly in parliament, altering public policy priorities, and exacerbating political polarization. The paper also explores containment strategies, including institutional reforms, civic education, more stringent regulations for social media, and a cordon sanitaire. Ultimately, the paper argues that while populism poses challenges to liberal democratic norms, it also exposes the failings of status quo governance and offers lessons for more responsive politics. Simultaneously, novel techniques ought to be adopted to curb future populist movements so that democratic principles can be safeguarded.

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