An exceptional response? security, development and civil society in Spanish policy after 11-M

Abstract

This article considers the ways in which Spanish state institutions responded to the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004 in the context of the global 'War on Terror'. It examines three inter-related arenas of Spanish policy after 9/11 in which security and civil society are invoked in ways that impact upon the country's development agenda toward its southern Mediterranean partners. The first relates to Spain's external relations with its North African neighbours, and in particular the place of migration in shaping these relations over the last decade. The second concerns Spain's political relations with the representative organizations of its own Muslim populations. A third area of analysis pertains to the juridical-institutional reactions of the state to the 11 March attacks: how have public authorities and civil society been affected and refashioned in the face of jihadist terrorism on the peninsula? The author argues that in each of these domains, the post-9/11 context generally, and the 11 March attacks in particular, have elicited a securitization of civil society, which has in turn been associated with the country's international relations and domestic politics. Such securitization, however, has only been partially successful, thus vindicating the continuation of 'politics as usual' among Spain's state officials and its civil society

Similar works

Full text

thumbnail-image

Birkbeck Institutional Research Online

redirect
Last time updated on 06/02/2012

This paper was published in Birkbeck Institutional Research Online.

Having an issue?

Is data on this page outdated, violates copyrights or anything else? Report the problem now and we will take corresponding actions after reviewing your request.