The Study of the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question in the Post-Franco Era

• Main Authors: Lee, Chia-an, 李加恩
• Other Authors: Chen, Yea-hong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/48753288684451261427

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 歐洲研究所 === 91 === From the ancient time, Gibraltar is a choke point because of her geopolitical importance. The creator of the Sea Power Theory -Alfred Thayer Mahan- have mentioned many times the strategic importance of Gibraltar. In the long history, there are some examples can prove this. The United Kingdom conquered Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Until today, she's still under the sovereignty of UK. The Spain government want to get back Gibraltar - the so called “the last colony in Europe”- for a long time, that's why cause the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question. After the World War II, the Spain government was isolated by the international community, so she can't ask the Gibraltar sovereignty immediately. When Spain returned to the international community in the 1950s, the Gibraltar was internationalized for the first time by Spain government whose hope is to get back Gibraltar. However, during the Franco era, Spain and UK both took the hard-line position: the prohibitory zone of Algeciras, first referendum of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Constitution Order and the close up of the border between Spain and Gibraltar. All those events revealed that at this period the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question was bankrupt, full of conflicts. Since Franco passed away, Spain began the democratization, the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question has a different feature. The two governments both take a more reasonable and flexible attitude, so the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question has a great progress: Lisbon Agreement in 1980, Brussels Agreement in 1984, London Agreement in 1987 and share of sovereignty in 2002, all these milestones revealed that both government want to totally resolve this 300 years old question. The whole study use the method of historical documents research, to analyze the position of Spain, UK and Gibraltar. The study concluded by these findings: 1. The democratization of Spain is the major reason of why the Gibraltar Sovereignty has such a significant progress. 2. Spain and UK have other greater importance interests, they don't want their foreign relationship affect by Gibraltar. 3. Spain's hard-line policy toward Gibraltar explode the antipathy of the Gibraltarian and make them distrust toward Spain. 4. Gibraltar also influence the Spain's local self- administration and the two spanish colonies in Morocco: Cueta and Melilla. 5. Gibraltar is another powerful example of UN’s inability. To look the Gibraltar Sovereignty Question in perspective, there are four main points: 1. Gibraltarian's opinion should be respected. 2. Promote the mutual trust between Spain and Gibraltar. 3. Assure the economy of Gibraltar would stay stable after she return to Spain. 4. Andorra could be a good model of share sovereignty.