Spain & America: A Special Relationship

The course traces the special relationship which has historically existed and still exists between Spain and the American continent. This relation has been not only a defining factor in the development of modern America (and, by extension, the modern world itself) but for long periods constituted one of the main pillars of global international relations and the world state system. These bilateral relations will be analyzed from all possible angles and will cover political, economical, historical, cultural and religious perspectives.

After tracing the late Middle Ages interest in the Atlantic Ocean, we will follow the Spanish discovery and conquest of Southern and Central America. After recreating and discussing the conquest and destruction of native Indian cultures and states there, we will proceed in two ways. First we will go on to show how Spanish rule and influence added importantly to the creation of what today is known as "Latin America," and secondly we will study the effects and consequences of the acquisition of large parts of the American continent on the society, economy, culture and collective mindset of Spain.

Our prior findings will be the base to outline and understand the changes in the relationship between Spain and America from the 18th century onwards and which culminated in the independence of all "Spanish" America. In this historical context we will have to analyze the relationship between Spain and the incipient United States of America, too.

Finally, the analysis of contemporary relations between Spain and America (both Latin and the USA) will include a study of "hispanidad," as well as the respective positions during the Spanish Civil War, the Francoist dictatorship, the Cold War and most recently the war in Iraq.