Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy in the 1970s. Lecture two asks whether Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy in the mid-1970s was inevitable. In so doing, it presents the use of ambassadorial cables in historical research and examines Carmen Martín Gaite’s 1978 novel, The Back Room.
Dec 2015
Lecture 3: Institutions of Democracy: King, President, Parliament, and Autonomous Communities
Democratic institution building. Lecture three uses Javier Cercas’ 2007 novel The Anatomy of a Moment to discuss Spain’s 23 February 1981 attempted military coup. It questions the origins of Spain’s democratic institutions and employs CIA reports in historical research. To see th ... Show More
44m 10s
Jun 2021
Franco Part 4: The Cold War & the President
The ‘White Terror’ continues. Spain’s strongman assumes power in Madrid, herding his defeated enemies into concentration camps. Franco commissions a movie to tell his own life story. Up in the mountains, die-hard rebels continue to resist. After World War Two, Franco seeks to re- ... Show More
34m 55s
May 2021
Franco Part 1: Spain’s Buried Past
Today, Spain is Europe’s holiday capital. But under the sand lie sinister secrets. From 1939 to 1975, Francisco Franco ruled as the nation’s dictator. Despite his bloody reign, the General died peacefully in his bed at a ripe old age. How was he able to get away with such atrocit ... Show More
38m 33s