This week we take a deep dive into Spain's growing political and social polarization, exploring reasons for widespread discomfort since the 2023 general election, corruption scandals, the rise of Vox, regional independence movements, and the historical roots that are fuelling distrust and division.
As always, we offer intentions and prayers to hold — calling for tolerance, truthfulness from political actors, fair and transparent institutions, compassionate social discourse, and responsible media, among other suggested areas for a...
This week we take a deep dive into Spain's growing political and social polarization, exploring reasons for widespread discomfort since the 2023 general election, corruption scandals, the rise of Vox, regional independence movements, and the historical roots that are fuelling distrust and division.
As always, we offer intentions and prayers to hold — calling for tolerance, truthfulness from political actors, fair and transparent institutions, compassionate social discourse, and responsible media, among other suggested areas for attention.
Prayers and intentions start at 17 minutes 35 seconds.
Suggested Intention Focus for this week
This week, as political and social polarisation in Spain intensifies to a point rarely seen since the time of the country’s Civil War of the 1930’s, we suggest holding as our main intention:
We will that the hearts and minds of all Spaniards will be moved to ease the bitter, emotionally charged differences that are fuelling angry dialogue, protest and the risk of civil disobedience in Spain.
Please join us in holding this.
Mentioned in this episode:
Our episode on polarisation in society, ‘Unmasking the Global Authenticity Crisis,’ can be heard at https://www.heartfulimpact.com/e/unmasking-the-global-authenticity-crisis/.
Chapter markers:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:40 The Polarization of Spain
00:05:26 Historical Context
00:12:26 Regional Identities and Their Impact
00:17:35 Intentions for Healing
Sources referenced in this episode:
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/07/30/who-are-vox-and-who-are-their-voters/
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2023/08/14/why-spains-democratic-transition-continues-to-shape-its-politics/
https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/national-disaster-management-system/spain_en
https://ecipe.org/blog/spain-split-and-talk-quantifying-regional-independence/
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3610&context=hon_thesis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_independence_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_and_regional_identity_in_Spain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_(political_party)
https://encompass-europe.com/comment/political-trust-in-the-european-social-survey
https://feps-europe.eu/left-contemporary-spain/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/spain/freedom-world/2024
https://freedomhouse.org/country/spain/freedom-world/2025
https://latinoamerica21.com/en/spain-a-fragile-minority-government-increases-polarization/
https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/why-spanish-politics-is-becoming-more-polarised/
https://rals.scu.ac.ir/article_15184_1c67c371b608da01bfc03442e4cbed23.pdf
https://research.library.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=international_senior
https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2025/spain
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=intl-std-theses
https://theconversation.com/how-spains-voters-and-political-systems-have-kept-the-far-right-out-of-power-for-now-249743
https://theconversation.com/passion-and-pain-why-secessionist-movements-rarely-succeed-85097
https://theloop.ecpr.eu/spains-electoral-maze-winners-trends-and-the-road-ahead/
https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/what-political-science-tells-us-about-the-risk-of-civil-war-in-spain/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/trust-in-government-by-country
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/8/tens-of-thousands-take-part-in-anti-government-protest-in-madrid
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/books/demographic-shifts-in-spain-call-for-reinvigorated-reforms/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46422036
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47937031
https://www.centracs.es/revista/article/download/117/159
https://www.centracs.es/revista/article/download/117/159
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP84S00555R000200020003-7.pdf
https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/07/26/pedro-sanchez-is-fighting-for-his-political-life
https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer
https://www.eppgroup.eu/what-we-do/with-eu-countries/spain/catalan-independence-is-a-threat
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2025/767186/EPRS_IDA(2025)767186_EN.pdf
https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/divided-spain/
https://www.gwi-boell.de/en/2020/06/26/rise-vox
https://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/activism-solidarity/navigating-the-catalan-crisis-independence-in-context/
https://www.kew.org.pl/en/2024/11/02/post-election-spain-persistent-polarization-and-political-turmoil/
https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/news/Paginas/2025/20250728-political-year-assessment.aspx
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/government-at-a-glance-2025-country-notes_da3361e1-en/spain_57f4ebd0-en.html
https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/commentaries/what-mays-local-and-regional-elections-tell-us-about-politics-in-spain/
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/10/catalan-referendum-spain-independence/541656/
https://www.veriangroup.com/news-and-insights/how-respondents-in-spain-value-democracy-and-the-rule-of-law
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/07/spain-political-polarization-espana-mejor/
Join us in person for intention holding:
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.
Our websites:
www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website.
https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.
https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.
Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.
Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.
Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.
Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).
Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.
Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.
