Spain's ambivalent good governance and rule of law promotion (explaining the paradox in) the case of Algeria

Resumen

This paper attempts to explain why although Spain has now a consolidated democratic regime it is still weakly and ambiguosly promoting democracy or even good-governance abroad. Recent events such as international terrorism has made even more urgent to concentrate on democratic assistance in Maghreb neighbouring countries. The concept of governance despite its shortcomings might offer an opportunity for non-intrusive democratic promotion. However, as the case of Algeria shows in the last 3 years and before, Spanish foreign policy and development cooperation actors are manifestly reluctant to engage in such a course of action. Obvious dependence on energy supply (hydrocarbons) is challenged as the main reason for this. Alternatively, it is suggested that long practices in Spanish «Arab» foreign policy, unreformed foreign service, europeanisation of Spain's foreign policy and the «second to France player syndrom» best account for Spain's ambiguity with governance and its slow abandon of statu quo policies.