The supposed shift that marginalizes Spain from the resolution of Western Sahara conflict

  1. Isaías Barreñada Bajo 1
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Revue:
SYbIL: Spanish yearbook of international law

ISSN: 0928-0634

Année de publication: 2022

Número: 26

Pages: 271-284

Type: Article

D'autres publications dans: SYbIL: Spanish yearbook of international law

Résumé

Spain is the European Union member state most concerned about the Western Sahara question, not only because of its direct ties as a former colonial power, but due to the interference caused by the conflict in its relations with its two Maghrebi neighbours, Morocco and Algeria. The declaration made by the Spanish government aligning itself with the Moroccan position has had direct domestic and foreign consequences. This text examines the extent to which this represents a substantial and significant shift in the Spanish position, in what would be a revision of its traditional position of ‘active neutrality’, and how this might affect Spain’s ability to make constructive contributions to the resolution of this conflict.