At the Heart of Spanish Democracy: MSU in Madrid

For any democratic country, parliaments are the very centers of political life. They are where the people’s will is embodied by elected representatives. As such, they are the perfect destination for those wanting to deepen their understanding of a nation’s political and cultural history.

With this objective, students from Michigan State University visited the Congreso de los Diputados in Madrid. The Congreso is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain’s parliament and legislative body since 1978 and the backdrop of a failed coup as late as 1981! Spain’s democratic constitution is indeed quite recent, since it was established only after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The novel nature of Spain’s democratic institutions is one of the elements of interest for students exploring the political history of this country.

During this visit, students had the chance to explore many of the areas and rooms of the congress building where Spanish politicians meet to discuss policies and party lines and assemble to vote. In this meaningful context, program participants deepened their understanding of Spain’s political life. The visit also focused on architectural and art historical aspects, since the building that houses the Congreso is a historical building from the 1800s in the Neoclassical style.

Students were in Spain as part of a program focusing on Spain’s political, cultural, and religious history, with a focus on the various cultures and populations that impacted the development of the country throughout the centuries. In particular, the visit was incorporated in the track Spain’s Cultural Mosaic: Unity, Division, and Identity, under the direction of Professor Shawn Nicholson.

The program was one of several First-year Seminars Abroad and Away, which are summer programs enrolling incoming first-year MSU students seeking international experiences before starting the fall semester. This and other programs give students the opportunity to explore other countries and ideas, giving their college experience a truly intercultural dimension.

Accent partners with several U.S. colleges and universities to develop first-year short-term and semester-long programs. These programs are carefully customized to respond to the unique needs of students who are just starting their studies, incorporating specific academic resources and on-site support. To learn more about one of such programs, visit our website.