Evolving social policy languages in Spain. What did democracy and EU membership change?

Abstract

This chapter analyses the historical evolution of the social policy languages and concepts in Spain. It focuses on the changing meanings of ‘social security’ and ‘welfare state’ but it also takes into account how entitlements and recipients were defined and how these notions changed over time. The interest of the Spanish case for analysing the evolution of social policy language is derived precisely from its peculiar historical development. Social policy was initiated in Spain in 1900. The development of social insurance followed the Bismarckian model from then until the end of Franco’s authoritarian regime in 1975. However, the Spanish social protection system has become a mix-model à la Esping-Andersen during the last 35 years of democratic rule. In fact, while the income-maintenance system remains broadly rooted in Bismarckian principles, health care, education, and partially, social care services have been universalized following the social democratic model. Some other social policy areas such as family protection and minimum income schemes have remained residual. The chapter is divided in two sections. The first section addresses briefly the origins and construction of the Spanish social protection system during Franco´s dictatorship (1939-1975). The second section explores the evolving meanings of ‘social security’ and ‘welfare state’ during the democratic period (1975 to present). Changes in the historical construction of social policy language were brought about not only because of the advent and consolidation of a democratic regime but also because of the inclusion of Spain in the European Economic Community in 1986.