Contemporary Spanish History

USF Course Code: HIS 3930

Prerequisite: none; taught in English.

Students: ISA students

Contact hours: 45

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I. Course Description:
This course will help students to understand current events in Spain as well as the idiosyncrasy of the Spanish people through the study of Spain’s most recent history (from the Napoleonic invasion to the economic crisis today). 
In order to make the learning experience closer to reality, some of the documents used in class are primary sources (speeches, declarations, laws passed, excerpts from newspapers, videos, films, etc.). 
Course contents will be dealt with working individually and in groups.

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II. Learning outcomes: 
-    Understand the main historical process that has shaped modern Spain 
-    Develop critical skills to connect historical facts with their political, social, economic, and cultural consequences in contemporary Spain. 
-    Analyze and critically discuss the main problems that current Spain faces.  

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III. Course contents (order of content may be modified): 

UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTORY UNIT
What do you know about contemporary Spain?
CIS Polls results
Political structure
Languages in Spain and the projection of Spanish language
A chronology of key events (1492- 1910)

UNIT 2 - REGENERATIONISM AND POLITICAL REVISIONISM
The crisis of 1909 and 1917
The colonial war in Morocco

UNIT 3 - PRIMO DE RIVERA DICTATORSHIP
Primo de Rivera Proclamation
From the Alfonso monarchy to the Second Republic

UNIT 4 – THE SECOND REPUBLIC
The Constitution of 1931 and the reformist period
The radical right wing period
The elections of 1936 and the Popular Front
Negrin and the Second Republic. / The prelude to tragedy

UNIT 5 - THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR 1936-1939
Franco’s manifesto
Republicans and Nationalists
Allies and the Spanish Civil War. 
The Axe and the Spanish Civil War. 
History in Art. 

UNIT 6 - THE FRANCO YEARS: FROM AUTARKY TO DEVELOPMENT
From autarky to development
Franco and Eisenhower
Juan Carlos’s role and the Spanish Royal Family
The transformation of Spanish society

UNIT 7 - THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY    
Suárez: the man leading the change
The 1978 Constitution.
Tejero’s 1981 coup d’etat

UNIT 8 – A SPAIN AUTONOMOUS REGIONS
Territorial organization of the State: the Autonomous Regions
Nationalist feelings
Catalonia independence process

UNIT 9 – SPANISH SOCIETY IN THE 80´s, 90´s AND THE NEW CENTURY
The PSOE and Felipe González (1981-1996)
The People’s Party and José María Aznar (1996-2004)
The PSOE and Zapatero (2004-2011)
The PP and Rajoy
Liberal vs conservative parties and modern vs. traditional parties
Dealing with the crisis
Evolution of Spanish economy in contemporary history
Terrorism in Spain. From ETA to Al Qaeda

UNIT 10 – THE EUROPEAN UNION
The basis for a union
Some key figures about Europe
EU activities and achievements
How the EU works. EU Institutions.
Impact of the crisis in the “European feeling”

UNIT 11 – SPAIN AND THE EU.  / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
What does Spain mean to the EU and what does the EU mean to Spain?
Relations with European countries
Relations with Non-European countries
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

Suggested screenings:
Bienvenido Mr Marshall. Luis G. Berlanga (1953)
Land and Freedom. Ken Loach (1995) 
Tejero’s coup (23-F: Radiografía del golpe”). Informe Semanal, TVE (2011)

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IV. Bibliography: 
Compiled by lecturer

Complementary bibliography:
Cowans, Jon. (2003). Contemporary Spanish History. Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Press. 
Cortes, Maximiano. (2001). Guía de usos y costumbres de España. Madrid, Edelsa. 
Ross, Christopher J. (2004). Spain: 1814-2004. Modern History for Modern Languages. Hodder Education. 
Ross, Christopher J. (2002). Contemporary Spain. A handbook. New York, Arnold Publishers. 
Gies, David. (1999). The Cambridge Companion to Modern Spanish Culture. Cambridge University Press. 
Hooper, J. (2006). The New Spaniards. Penguin. 
Carr, T. (1980). Modern Spain: 1875-1980. Oxford University Press.
Ministry of Presidence. Spain Today 2008. Ministry of Presidency.
Ministry of Presidence. Spain Today 2009. Ministry of Presidency.
EL PAÍS, English Edition. Madrid, Prisa.
Carr, Raymond (2000). Spain. A History. Oxford University Press.
Barton, Simon. (2004).A History of Spain. Palgrave Mcmillan.

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V.I. How to succeed in this course? 
Participation and meaningful interaction with the professor and peers based on the reading material is as essential to the course as writing the assigned paper and taking the exam. Keeping the tasks of the subject up-to-date is key to assimilating the contents, something that cannot be achieved if only the study time is concentrated before the midterm or final. 

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VI. Grading scale

La calificación final del curso utilizará la siguiente escala/ Final grades will be calculated according to the following scale:
94 - 100 A
90-93 A -
87 -89 B +
84 - 86 B
80 - 83 B -
77 - 79 C+
74 - 76 C 
70 - 73 C-
67 -69 D+
64 -66 D
60 -63 D-
0-59 F

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VII. Course policies

VII.I. Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory and is taken every class day and reflected in the course attendance sheet. 
An 85% attendance rate is required for the successful completion of the course. Perfect attendance will be taken positively into account in the participation section. 
If a student exceeds this limit, 1 point will be taken off of the final grade (Spanish grade). Reaching a 20% of unexcused absences means that the transcript for this subject will show “not attended course”. 
Excused absences: Medical Certificates that will be considered only if issued by a physician (not notes from the family explaining the student’s absence). The certificates must include the exact dates for which a student should be excused for having missed classes. Courses cannot be audited, so attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class. 
Punctuality: Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to return directly to class after class breaks. Arriving 10 minutes late (or more) and/or early class departures are considered unexcused absences and will be taken into account as half an absence. 
 
Attending class is not only the presence in the classroom. The professor will encourage active participation in the course and it will be taken into account as part of the evaluation.  

Auditors: Courses cannot be taken as auditors, thus attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class.

VII.II. Conduct in class
Students who actively participate in classroom activities and who maintain a professional and respectful attitude will be evaluated positively. Students must not eat or use laptops during the class (unless specifically authorized by the teacher).  

VII.III. Late work 
One half point will be taken off (from the learning activities grade) for homework that is submitted late repeatedly. Late assignments will be corrected but will not be graded. 
Missing a class does not release the student from completing the homework assigned or studying the topics covered in class that day.

VII.IV. Make-up Exams
If a student cannot be present for an examination for a valid reason (see V.II.) and approved by the professor and academic direction, a make-up exam will be given.

VII.V. Exam retention
After exams are graded, the teacher will review the examination with the class and collect all exams. The exams will be retained for one semester following the current one, and then they will be destroyed.

VII.VI. Academic Honesty
Students are expected to act in accordance with their university standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty.

VII.VII. Special accommodations 
Students with special needs who require reasonable accommodations, special assistance or specific aid in this course (either for properly making-up classes, taking exams, etc.) should direct their request to Academic Coordination during the first days of the course.

Teaching staff is required to report any disclosures harassment or violence of any kind.