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This edited volume examines the political, social, and economic developments in contemporary Spain, with a particular focus on the period of the Socialist government (2008-11), the 2011 elections, and the challenges facing Spain and the new Popular Party government.

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Contents List of Tables List of Figures Notes on Contributors Preface and Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: Political Change in Spain, from Zapatero to Rajoy Bonnie N. Field and Alfonso Botti 2. The Long Adiós: The PSOE and the End of the Zapatero Era Anna Bosco 3. From Opposition to Government: The Popular Party of Mariano Rajoy Alfonso Botti 4. Governing Spain in Tough Times and in Minority: The Limits of Shifting Alliances Bonnie N. Field 5. The State of Autonomies between the Economic Crisis and Enduring Nationalist Tensions César Colino 6. Economic Reforms and the Labor Market: Zapatero´s Endless Period in the Wilderness àscar Molina and Alejandro Godino 7. The Relationship between Unions and Zapatero´s Government: From Social Pacts to General Strike Kerstin Hamann 8. Youth Protests and the End of the Zapatero Government Carmelo Adagio 9. The Spanish Catholic Church from the Zapatero Era to the Rajoy Government Mireno Berrettini 10. Gender Equality Policymaking in Spain (2008-11): Losing Momentum Celia Valiente 11. The Spanish Welfare State from Zapatero to Rajoy: Recalibration to Retrenchment Eloísa del Pino 12. Conclusions Alfonso Botti and Bonnie N. Field ?

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Anna Bosco, Università Di Trieste, Italy César Colino, Universidad Nacional De Educación A Distancia, Spain àscar Molina, Universidad Autónoma De Barcelona, Spain Alejandro Godino, Universidad Autónoma De Barcelona, Spain Kerstin Hamann, University Of Central Florida, USA Carmelo Adagio, the journal Spagna Contemporanea, Italy Mireno Berrettini, Università Cattolica Del S. Cuore Di Milano, Italy Celia Valiente, Universidad Carlos III, Spain

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