New Conceptions of Security in Spain: the Case of Hezbollah

• Main Authors: Alejandro Hurtado de Ory, Luigi Masciulli
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) 2007-12-01
• Series: Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals
• Subjects: Spain; Lebanon; European Union; cooperation; security; political movements; terrorism
• Online Access: http://www.cidob.org/es/content/download/6547/65461/file/hurtado_79_80.pdf

The interview that Miguel Ángel Moratinos held with Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Naim Qassem, in July 2007, opened the doors to new ways of formulating relations with political groups in the Middle East, as well as to a new way of promoting Spain’s foreign policy, based on dialogue, cooperation and regional security. The two actors (Spain and Hezbollah) may achieve many benefits from this meeting, which has also been strengthened through subsequent trips by the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister and by his French and Italian counterparts. In spite of this, owing to the unstable situation that the region is suffering from, this new policy may also result in a total failure that would delegitimise Spain as a valid interlocutor in the area. Depending on how Spain manages the situation, manybenefits may be achieved, though also, depending on how the many actors in the region interact, possible failure may generate more threats and fractures, and not only for Spain but also for Europe and the international community.