The Regional Problem of Spain

Spain’s great variety has been discussed in terms of climatic zones, physical appearance and civil divisions correspond ing to early counties, principalities and kingdoms. The present-day provinces can be considered in groups. Each group represents a traditional region, understood by Spaniards to be distinct from all the others and to bear its own personality, usually going back into antiquity. Some of the provinces, like Galicia, were themselves single kingdoms. Some, like Andalusia, have been made up in times past of many kingdoms, caliphates, emirates and other sov ereign realms.

The variety of regions enriches Spain’s life, but it also presents many serious problems in national organization. These problems have a direct bearing on Spain’s economic and political future.)

The regions of Spain will be described in seven broad groups: Galicia, the Basque Provinces, Catalonia, the Valencia-Murcia Coast, Andalusia, the Central Meseta and its flanks, and the Spanish is lands and overseas possessions.