1. Introduction: Examining Political Rhetoric in Spanish Constitutional Debates

This book, ‘Constitutional Debates, Rhetoric, and Political Philosophy in Spain’s Parliamentary History’, explores the conceptual controversies, rhetorical devices, and political philosophy’s arguments in Spain’s constitutional debates during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Firstly, it argues that each constitutional debate studied here gave rise to conceptual controversies drawn on political philosophy’s arguments. Clashing ideological views resulted in the renewal of the country’s political vocabulary and institutions. Secondly, the chapter looks into the interdisciplinary bonds between political philosophy, conceptual history, and parliamentary history applied to the study of constitutional debates. Finally, it presents the structure of the book around eight chapters. From Chapters 2 to 7 constitutional debates are addressed. By contrast, Chapter 8 surveys the legacy of liberalism and constitutionalism in contemporary Spain.