Description
This study seeks to understand why Spanish political elites have such a complicated relationship with defense policy. To this end, structured interviews were conducted with representatives from all major Spanish political parties in the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, providing a comprehensive analysis of defense policy dynamics in Spain.
Our findings unveil that Spanish political elites exhibit limited interest in defense policy, influenced by various interwoven factors. The absence of direct military threats to Spain throughout its history has fostered a strategic culture characterized by a lack of urgency among politicians when it comes to prioritizing defense. Challenges in parliamentary control over defense and military policy, coupled with disparities in strategic culture among political elites, hinder effective oversight and accountability. Nevertheless, they tend to prioritize other policy areas due to other political considerations.
This study delves into the role of Spanish political elites in defense policy, while considering the concept of "strategic culture" as a lens through which to understand their limited engagement in this pivotal area. This culture is highly influenced by the fact that the elites handle a whole set of clichés and prejudices based on the historical legacy that do not allow them to address defense issues in a natural way.
