Protestors opposed to austerity measures imposed by the Spanish government have been camping out in Madrid for the past few weeks. In an email interview, José M. Magone, a professor at the Berlin School of Economics and Law and the author of "Contemporary Spanish Politics," discussed the protests in Spain.
WPR: What is the driving force behind the current protests in Spain?
José M. Magone: The driving force behind the protests is a general feeling of outrage on the part of the younger generation, as well as other groups that are suffering under the Spanish government's harsh austerity program. It is quite a heterogeneous movement, supported by the anti-globalization movement, spontaneously created local groups, left-wing organizations and other progressive groups. The movement grew out of demonstrations on May 15 in different parts of the country that subsequently spread to several major cities.