The European Gatekeeper: The Netherlands and the democratization of Spain, 1973 - 1977

Forty-one years have passed since the start of the Spanish transition from dictatorship
to democracy in 1975. This regime change did not unfold in isolation from external
influences. Until present, research has mainly focussed on the role of major actors. Less research has been conducted on the part played by relatively small actors like the
Netherlands. This paper examines Dutch foreign policy towards Spain during the last
phase of the Franco-regime (1973-1975) and the first phase of the transition to
democracy (1975-1977) based on research in Dutch archives. The period studied
corresponds with the office term of the most progressive cabinet in Dutch parliamentary history presided by the social democrat Joop den Uyl from May 1973 – December 1977. In this paper it is established that the Den Uyl cabinet played a significant role in promoting democracy in Spain, acting as a European gatekeeper, rejecting Spanish membership of the European Community until democracy was established in 1977.