Spain, Europe, and Western Security Policy

This book analyzes the limitations in the Europeanization of Spanish security and defense policy. For various reasons, Spain has maintained an amalgamated security system based on agreements with NATO, the EU and the US. This combination has produced a dysfunctional system, as it is not truly able to address some of the country’s vital security interests, above all in North Africa and the Mediterranean. At the same time, due mainly to domestic reasons, various Spanish governments have been reluctant to pursue autonomy in the country’s security policy and defense capabilities. Written by a team of scholars and practitioners, this book offers policymakers and professionals both a general overview of and deeper insights into the issue. Due to the lack of comprehensive studies on Spanish security and defense policy and its ties to Europe, this book will be of particular interest. About the editor: Dr. David Javier García Cantalapiedra has been a Professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid since 2004. He also teaches US Foreign Policy at the Spanish Foreign Service School and is a lecturer at the Spanish National Defense Studies Center and the Spanish Armed Forces School.