Spain‘s Traditional Class Lines blur as Identity Politics Rise, Leaving Voters Identifying as Middle Class Despite Economic Realities
Madrid, Spain – Traditional understandings of social class in Spain are increasingly fractured, with a notable disconnect emerging between economic reality and self-identification, according to recent analysis.While political parties historically aligned with specific classes, those lines are blurring as identity politics gain prominence and a large portion of the Spanish population identifies as middle class, even when material conditions suggest otherwise.
The Popular Party (PP), traditionally considered a right-wing force, draws support from a broad base, including a substantial number of middle-class voters – a demographic often overlooked in analyses focusing on their conservative leanings. Meanwhile, the Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE), historically representing working-class interests, now relies heavily on pensioners and property owners, complicating its traditional connection to labor. Despite this shift, defense of the welfare state remains a key tenet for PSOE voters, though it’s considered less of a purely class-based issue in Spain than in other nations.
Interestingly, leaders of Spain’s far-left, such as Podemos figures Pablo Iglesias and Ione Belarra, frequently enough hail from solidly middle-class backgrounds and are deeply embedded in Madrid’s political landscape. Yet,according to political analyst Hernández,”the Spanish left… doesn’t like to mention the middle class as it represents everything they want to distance themselves from,those people they consider conformist,consumerist and conservative and whose eagerness is to imitate the rich.”
The Spanish far-right, embodied by Vox, diverges further, prioritizing a cultural understanding of Spain rooted in interpretations of its history – including the Civil War and the transition to democracy – and nostalgic views of Spanish society. Unlike the PP, Vox is less likely to analyze society through a class lens, instead focusing on notions of a “real” Spain and identifying internal enemies, such as non-Catholics, Basques, and Catalans, regardless of their economic standing.The Spanish right, in general, has historically emphasized individualism and entrepreneurship over collective societal models, prioritizing religion and nationalism over material arguments. Together, center-left and far-left politics have increasingly focused on identity politics – diversity, minority groups, and multiculturalism – a trend that, when taken to extremes, can itself be seen as a form of individualism. A key observation is that proponents of this intense focus on identity politics often come from comfortable middle-class families, further diminishing the relevance of class-based political discourse.
Hernández highlights the core of the issue: “If we look at purely material elements, at prices and salaries, at the cost of subsistence and real disposable income, a good part of Spaniards are working class but almost all of them identify themselves as middle class. A small part of the population,and mostly politicised,considers itself working class.”
This self-perception, despite economic realities, suggests a basic shift in how Spaniards view their place in society, contributing to the fading language of class in political debate.
