Spain. A beautiful country. A beautiful culture. A beautiful nation? As discussed in class, Spain has had one of the most difficult times adapting a universal agreement of "nationalism" (within Spain). Due to the variety of cultures and regions many people in Spain don't identify themselves as Spainards.
Once Spain, entered the European Union, it thought everything would be ok: identity and nationalism would all fall into place. However, as the article illustrates, this is not the case. Many european countries are looking down on Spain.
Identity and nationalism are constant developments that don't have an exact answer. In this case will Spain ever be european when it can't even have a universal identity and universal agreement of nationalism. Also, with Spain being "shunned" by european countries, will this delay the Spain's development?
What do you think?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126781293
I think what is happening here, is Spain´s identity is simply changing. I found this quote interesting. "For many younger Spaniards, however, their European identity is by now so firmly implanted that anything else is almost unimaginable." At this time, the problem with Spain´s identity is the generational divide. The typically more traditional older Spaniards and the up and coming younger generation cannot and will not see eye to eye. But as the new generation of Spaniards grows, Spain and its identity will grow with them.
ReplyDeleteI am confident that in 60 years Spain will be very different then it is today. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, I cannot say but in time Spain will be much more about the EU and less about its own single identity. This change is coming from within. The resistance comes from this older generation of Spaniards, and as they fade, Spain can then find its true European identity.
Good article Katie:)
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