The transition to democracy that followed the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 was once hailed as a model of political transformation. But since the 2008 financial crisis it has come under intense scrutiny. Today, a growing divide exists between advocates of the Transition and those who see it as the source of Spain's current socio-political bankruptcy. This book revisits the crucial period from 1962 to 1992, exposing the networks of art, media and power that drove the Transition and continue to underpin Spanish politics in the present. Drawing on rare archival materials and over three hundred interviews with politicians, artists, journalists and ordinary Spaniards, including former prime minister Felipe Gonzalez (1982-96), Following Franco unlocks the complex and often contradictory narratives surrounding the foundation of contemporary Spain.

'Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy could hardly have been more tumultuous, with terrorism, military subversion and political chicanery in abundance. Duncan Wheeler's fascinating, utterly original and endlessly entertaining book is one of the best introductions imaginable to a story as murky as it is uplifting.'
Professor Sir Paul Preston, London School of Economics and Political Science

'Studies of 1960s, '70s, and '80s Spain rarely invoke the "swinging 60s", the "me decade" or the "decade of greed". Duncan Wheeler takes the reader on a fun-driven journey through the media- and gossip-scapes of these transformative years, leaving no cultural icon unturned.'
Professor Eugenia Afinoguénova, Marquette University

'Following Franco takes the reader on an exciting journey through Spanish culture and politics that reaches back to Francoism and beyond. Duncan Wheeler gives an enriching and comprehensive account that allows us to understand the idiosyncrasies of contemporary Spain.'
Professor Manuel Palacio, University Carlos III of Madrid

Spain faces many challenges in the twenty-first century. Disillusionment with the two mainstream parties has resulted in the emergence of radical political start-ups Podemos and Vox, while the 2017 referendum on Catalan independence marked the country's worst constitutional crisis since 1981, when members of the Guardia Civil entered parliament and held democracy to ransom.

In this bold and far-reaching study, Duncan Wheeler traces the roots of Spain's problems to the process of democratic transition following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. Drawing on rare archival materials and over three hundred interviews with politicians, artists, journalists and ordinary Spaniards, including former prime minister Felipe Gonzalez (1982-96), he revisits the crucial decades of 1962 to 1992, exposing the networks of art, media and power that drove the Transition and continue to underpin Spanish politics today.

Formato	Tapa dura
Número de Páginas	416
Lenguaje	Inglés
Editorial	Manchester University Press
Fecha de Publicación	2020-10-15
Dimensiones	8.6" x 5.5" x 1.4" pulgadas
Letra Grande	No
Con Ilustraciones	No
Temas	Siglo 20, Español

Duncan Wheeler is Professor and Chair of Spanish Studies at the University of Leeds