The 15M Movement: Reinvigorating the Public Sphere in Spain

This chapter assesses the contribution of the 15-M movement to the reinvigoration of the public sphere in Spain. In so doing, it works with Habermas’ concept of the public sphere that accords the public sphere its prominent role in democratic politics as the space where public opinion and will on matters of common concern are formed (McAfee 2000: 96). The chapter argues that while the impact of the 15-M move-ment on the public sphere is undeniable, its impact on economic and political institutions is harder to ascertain. The victory of the right-wing Popular Party (PP) in the November 2011 general election only six months after the eruption of the 15-M movement into Spain’s public squares seemed to suggest a negligible impact on Spain’s eco-nomic and political institutions. The continuing electoral strength of the PP in two subsequent general elections in December 2015 and June 2016, albeit with a decreasing mandate, provided further evidence of the inability of the 15-M movement to translate its social power into political power. This also highlights a key weakness in Habermas’ two-track democracy, which is unclear on how the public opinion formed discursively in the public sphere is able to influence decisions taken within political institutions. And yet, six years on from its first mani-festation in May 2011, this chapter will argue that the 15-M movement has led, and continues to lead, to long-term political change in Spain, even if the impact of that chang