Proposal: The international factor in the transitions to democracy of the southern European countries
Keywords: Democratic transition, EU accession, European identity, Rule of law, Political systems and institutions, Governance, Reconciliation, EU values; Human Rights; Fighting populism
Objective: Spain, Portugal and Greece joined the European Communities during the second and third enlargement processes. These countries experienced their transitions from civil and military dictatorships to democratic systems and understood the European integration project as a way to make political change irreversible. Europeanization was a priority and a general objective for the three countries.
The experience lived during these transitions represented an important historical lesson from which it is necessary to continue learning today. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop comparative research on the transitions that took place in three southern European countries – Spain, Portugal and Greece – practically simultaneously (from 1974-75). It will be done through the study of two key dimensions of transitions, following a methodology established by the Complutense University and validated in numerous projects and publications: the study of the international factor inward and outward.
Special emphasis will be placed on the importance of the European values and of the entry into the European Communities as key priorities. Thus, it will also be possible to extract lessons applicable to possible countries that are candidates for joining the EU (such as Ukraine).
This project also aims to fight Euroscepticism by disseminating the importance of European values in the transitions. Therefore, reaching out to civil society and young people and disseminating research results among them is also a priority.
Call: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM – European Remembrance – 2024
Predicted budget: 116 075,00€
To be Implemented between 2025 and 2027
Consortium:
- Fundación Universidad Loyola Andalucia
- European Research Center for Social Development (Glouni)
- QUALIA
- Universidad Complutense De Madrid