Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

Culture and Politics in Contemporary Spanish Society (in English or Spanish)

Language requirements: Open for all (in English for no Spanish or low levels and in Spanish)

DESCRIPTION AND GOALS

This course offers an introduction to contemporary Spanish culture so that students can become familiar with the social, economic and political structures of Spain today. Our study will be focused on some specific aspects which make the country both appealing and richly varied: the ancestral monarchy restored after a long dictatorship, the organisation in autonomous communities which may be seen as a solution to historical conflicts, the fact that it is one of the main tourist destinations in the world and, at the same time, the country of Don Quijote, Lorca, bullfighting and soccer. All these features of life, history and politics will be analysed throughout the course.

SYLLABUS

1. SPANISH GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION

1.1 The country´s geographical situation and its influence throughout history
1.2 A privileged strategical position?

2. SPANISH POPULATION

2.1 Immigration: the new Spaniards
2.2 Spanish population: and old people

3. SOME MILESTONES IN SPANISH HISTORY

3.1 The Spain of the Three Cultures
3.2 A universal monarchy
3.3 The overseas empire
3.4 The Civil War
3.5 Francoism

4. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES: THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY

4.1 The primary sector
4.1.1 Agriculture and Fishing
4.2 The secondary sector
4.2.1 Industry and Mining
4.2.2 Energy sources: economic dependence
4.3 The tertiary sector
4.3.1 Tourism and Trade
4.3.2 Transportation and Communications

5 CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION

5.1 Constitutional monarchy: The Transition from a dictatorship to a democracy
5.1.1 The two Spanish chambers: Congress and Senate
5.2 Spanish Autonomous Communities: the Constitution of 1978
5.3 Historical nationalist movements: the Basque Country

6 SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY

6.1 Social services: medicine, housing and education
6.2 Spanish archetypes. Daily life and cultural habits

7 SPANISH ART: PAST TO PRESENT

7.1 Roman and Muslim art in Spain
7.2 The great cathedrals
7.3 Universal painters: Velázquez, Goya and Picasso

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alborg, J.L. (1966): Historia de la literatura española, Madrid, Gredos
Deyermond, A. (1983): Historia de la literatura española, Barcelona, Ariel
Rico, F. (1980): Historia y crítica de la literatura española, Barcelona, Crítica
Watt, Ian (1996): Myths of Modern Individualism: Faust, Don Quijote, Don Juan, Robinson Crusoe, UK, Cambridge University Press

Azcárate Ristori, J.M. (1974): Historia del arte, Madrid, Epesa
Rebollo Matías, A. (1997): Historia del arte y patrimonio cultural en España, Madrid, Síntesis
Pérez Sánchez, A. (1992): Pintura barroca en España, Madrid, Cátedra
Lafuente Ferrari, R. (1987): Breve historia de la pintura española, Madrid, Tecnos

Vila Valenti, J. (1968): La Península Ibérica, Barcelona, Ariel

Pérez Fernández, J.M.; Hernando, Jorge (2004): Spain in Perspective. An Introduction to its History, Art and Culture, Granada, Universidad de Granada
Pérez, Joseph (1999): Historia de España, Barcelona, Crítica
Valdeón, Julio; Pérez, Joseph; Juliá, Santos (2003): Historia de España, Madrid, Austral
Domínguez Ortiz, A. (2000): España. Tres milenios de historia, Madrid, Marcial Pons
Juliá, Santos (2004): Historia de las dos Españas, Madrid, Taurus
Thomas Hugh (2003): El imperio español, Madrid, Planeta (Rivers of Gold, the Rise of the Spanish Empire)
Fusi, J.P. (1989): España: Autonomías, Madrid, Espasa-Calpe
García de Cortázar, F. (2002): Historia de España: de Atapuerca al euro, Barcelona, Planeta
Preston Paul (1986): Revolución y guerra en España 1931-1936, Madrid, Alianza
Preston, Paul (1994): Franco, Barcelona, Grijalbo
Carr, Raymond (1989): España de la dictadura a la democracia, Barcelona, Planeta
Sánchez Albornoz, C. (1971): España, un enigma histórico, Buenos Aires, ed. Sudamericana
Marías, J. (1987): Ser español, Barcelona, Planeta
Juliá, S. (1996): Memoria de la Transición, Madrid, Taurus
Thomas, Hugh (1961): The Spanish Civil War, New York, Harper & Brothers
Preston, Paul (1987): La Guerra Civil española, Madrid, Plaza y Janés

EVALUATION

The final grade will be calculated according to the following percentages:

Regular papers throughout the course: 60%
In-class test: 10%
Class attendance and participation: 30%