Memory and Amnesia - The Role of the Spanish Civil War in the Transition to Democracy

Using a rich variety of sources such as official newsreels, school textbooks, the work of contemporary historians, memoirs, official documents, legislation, and monuments, this book explores how the historical memory of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) influenced the transition to democracy in Spain after Franco's death in 1975. The author traces the development of official discourse on the War throughout the Franco period and describes the régime's attempts to achieve political legitimacy. Although there was no universal consensus regarding the events of the Civil War, general agreement did exist concerning the main lesson which should be drawn from it: never again should Spaniards become embroiled in a fratricidal conflict.

List of contents

Acronyms

Glossary

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements for the English Edition

Foreword for the English Edition

Preface

Chapter 1. Regarding Memory, Learning and Amnesia

The Generational Question

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Presentism

Taxidermism

Amnesia

Learning

Ceremonies and Monuments

Methodology and Sources

Chapter 2. From the Justification of War to the exaltation of Peace: The Development of Official Discourse during the Franco Period

Alternating Legitimacy

Origin-based Legitimacy and Performance-based Legitimacy

Champions of Francoist Legitimacy

From War to Peace

Sources of Political Socialisation

No-Do Historical Narrative

Commemorations of the Civil War

Monuments of the Victors

Legendary Sites of the Defeated

Policies of Reconciliation and Policies of Vengeance

From Punishment to Forgiveness

From Munich to the Organic Law of State

Symbols and Myths Relating to the Civil War

Towards the Convergence of Interpretations

Mythical Constructions of Francoism

Regarding the Civil War

Regarding Reconciliation and the Defeated

Chapter 3. The Memory of War and the Lessons of Peace in the Democratic Transition

Economic and Social Characteristics of the Transition

History as Magistra Vitae

Institutional Structure

Reconciliation Consensus

Conclusion

Bibliography

Tables

Graphs

Appendices

Index

About the author

Paloma Aguilar is Professor of Political Science at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Madrid, Spain) and Doctor Member of the Juan March Institute (Madrid, Spain).

Summary

Using a rich variety of sources such as official newsreels, school textbooks, the work of contemporary historians, memoirs, official documents, legislation, and monuments, this book explores how the historical memory of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) influenced the transition to democracy in Spain after Franco's death in 1975. The author traces the development of official discourse on the War throughout the Franco period and describes the régime's attempts to achieve political legitimacy. Although there was no universal consensus regarding the events of the Civil War, general agreement did exist concerning the main lesson which should be drawn from it: never again should Spaniards become embroiled in a fratricidal conflict.

Additional text

“…this excellent history of the Spanish desire for reconciliation is a major contribution to the study of both the Transition and memory.” • Journal of Modern History

“This book… is one of the most important research studies written recently about the Spanish transition to democracy… [It] will be of treat use for historians, researchers of cultural studies (Aguilar used cinema and art sources), political scientists and policy makers engaged in the transition process from non-democratic regimes.” • Democratization

“This methodologically exemplary study makes an essential contribution to research on historical memory in Spain, the most important issue within the country's contemporary history.” • Stanley Payne, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Paloma Aguilar has made an important, meticulous and impartial contribution to a crucial aspect of our contemporary memory.” • Víctor Pérez-Díaz, Complutense University of Madrid

“Paloma Aguilar's detailed and composed study of the historical memory of the Spanish Civil War is a work of considerable importance. In addition to its scientific interest, it offers an exciting read.” • Paul Preston, London School of Economics

“…a very convincing analysis.” • Historische Zeitschrift

“The translation into English of a book written by a contemporary Spanish historian is an unusual publishing event. [This] work…is richly deserving of this tribute…this excellent history of the Spanish desire for reconciliation is a major contribution to the study of both the Transition and memory.” • Modern History

Product details

• Authors: Paloma Aguilar
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.08.2002
• EAN: 9781571817570
• ISBN: 978-1-57181-757-0
• No. of pages: 356
• Dimensions: 157 mm x 235 mm x 23 mm
• Weight: 666 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; History: 20th Century to Present, Memory Studies