Based on the dependency theory this thesis examines structural causes for the increasing development gap within the European Union using the example of the southern Spanish region Andalusia. The peripheral location of Andalusia within Spain as well as within the European Union not only traces back to historic roots but also results from the region's long process of continuous integration into the world market and the Economic and Monetary Union. Andalusia was an unequal partner in this process

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... owards a hierarchic system with uneven playing fields. While the system strengthened several countries and regions and fostered their economic development, the integration process led to a growing economic and financial dependency of Andalusia. Starting with an analysis of the regional economy this thesis deals with the position of Andalusia in the European economic order which is the result of a variety of integration projects. In the following the effects of a series of regional development programs are investigated. These programs are based on differing development concepts and have been implemented at national, regional and supranational level since the partial opening of the Andalusian economy in the late 1950s. The crisis starting in 2008 in Europe exacerbated the uneven development of the individual member states of the European Union. Additionally it illustrates the failure of the measures that have been implemented to reduce the development divergences within the European community. The limits of the catch-up process become evident looking at the examples of southern European countries. Andalusia with its location at the geographical edge of Europe belongs to those regions that were hit particularly hard by the crisis.