Myths and Realities of Contemporary Spain

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Read and discuss new and sometimes complex ideas in English and Spanish
• Apply knowledge and skills gained in the course of the module to the conception and preparation of your year abroad investigative project, with the possibility of further development of themes and concepts studied in level 4 modules
• Work effectively in a group, as well as independently
• Develop further your skills of critical analysis, in both spoken and written form

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The roles of class, gender, race, ethnicity and political identities in the forging of Spanish democracy
• Models of transitional politics and processes of democratisation in the Hispanic world
• The process of democratic transition in Spain in the late 20th century
• General knowledge of the history and politics of Spain in the twentieth century
• The relationship between the ‘state’ and the ‘nation’ in the context of the Spanish ‘State of Autonomies’

Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Assess the relationship between key concepts such as ‘democracy’, ‘civil society’, ‘historical memory’ and ‘the nation-state’ contemporary Spain.
• Evaluate the meaning of ‘democracy’ and ‘reconciliation’ in the context of ‘transitional politics’.
• Identify and understand social and political ruptures and continuities in post- Francoist Spain.
• Apply these concepts critically to the study of the Spanish democratic transition and the post-francoist period

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically analyze Spanish press and media discourses.
• Carry out critical analysis and evaluation of a variety of primary and secondary sources

Taking the late Francoist period and the Spanish democratic transition as starting points, this module analyses the key social and political transformations that Spain has undergone in the last four decades: establishment of a parliamentary monarchy; forging of a secular civil society with equal rights for men and women; incorporation to the European Community; accelerated processes of modernisation; reconfiguration of territorial administration; recuperation and promotion of regional identities; globalisation; and reversal of migration flows. In exploring the extent and impact of these changes, the module seeks to identify ruptures and continuities with regards to Spain’s recent past and engage with questions such as: Why are the horrors of the Spanish civil war still haunting the country? Why does the Basque conflict remain unresolved? Why is domestic violence so prevalent in democratic Spain? How is Spain dealing with the recent phenomenon of immigration? In order to seek answers to these questions the module draws on a variety of primary and secondary sources from different disciplines including theoretical readings, historical narratives, oral histories, press articles, documentaries, film and music

Teaching methods include

• 1 weekly double period lecture/seminar.

Learning activities include

• Independent critical reading.
• Viewing and analising relevant documentaries and films.

Innovative or special features of this module

• Press/media analysis project

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.