Los ministros de la España democrática Reclutamiento político y carrera ministerial de Suárez a Zapatero (1976-2010)

Summarize The aim of this work is to explain the political recruitment and ministerial careers of the national cabinet members in democratic Spain (1977-2011). The study suggests the influence of the social and political characteristics as well as the political career on the access to the office and on their ministerial trajectories. Why some ministers last longer than others? Why some of them change of portfolio and other do not? Why some ministers are recruited as specialists while others become generalists ministers suitable for any task? Are there differences between t different portfolios? To understand these questions, it is necessary to pay attention to the political changes that have shaped the contemporary Spain: social modernization, democratization of the political system and a regional decentralization. Some specific features appear in the Spanish ministerial elite: fewer national MPs and more members coming from other political levels than in other parliamentary systems. Ministers stay shortly and most of them will not experience any change in portfolio. The analysis of the ministerial circulation in Spain contributes to a better understanding of the presidentialisation that seems to be taking place in the Spanish political system during the democratic period. Contents Prologue by Jean Blondel 1 The ministerial in cabinet executives 2 The executive in Spain: structure, stability and composition 3 La Transición and the UCD government (1976-1982) 4 The governments of the PSOE (1982-1996) 5 From the PP government to the return of the PSOE (1996-2010) 6 The social origins of the ministerial elite 7 The Political origins of the ministerial elite 8 Political careers and paths to the cabinet 9 The ministerial career: time 10 The ministerial career: circulation 11 The ministerial careers: position Conclusions Bibliography