Politics of Spain
GENERAL INFORMATION
Professor Hank
Edmondson
Arts and Sciences Bldg. 206
478-445-04562 hm
478-445-4562 fax
706-796-2874 hm
Office hours: Tu, Th 11-12:30, 3:00-4:00; or by appointment
Note: often the quickest way to get in touch with me is through e-mail, which I usually check periodically during the day.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the historical, cultural, governmental, constitutional, and political dimensions of the Kingdom of Spain. (yes, that's what it's really called!) For American students of political science--as well as history, public administration, and criminal justice--Spain presents many important and interesting considerations. These include questions of democratic theory (Spain is a very young democracy), considerations of the place of constitutional monarchies in the modern world, and strategies for dealing with the problem of terrorism. To enliven our time together, we'll not only be looking at political/legal/constitutional issues, but also getting a taste of Spanish culture by surveying Spanish movies, music, wine, beer, and art.
REQUIRED TEXTS
The New Spaniard by John Hooper
The Spanish Civil War by Antony Beever
Dirty War, Clean Hands ETA, the GAL, and Spanish Democracy by Paddy Woodworth
Reserve Readings:
-Spanish Constitution (find it on the internet and run it off; please bring it to class everyday).
Go to: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/law/sp00000_.html
GRADING
1/3 mid-term
1/3 final
1/3 reviews of in-class books, including the Woodworth book.
In case of borderline grades, favorable consideration will be given to those who have contributed well to classroom discussion.
There will be no research paper in this class; instead three book reviews as indicated on the class schedule. One of the reasons for this is that it is very difficult to find much information on Spain in English; however, the best site is www.spainpost.com a compilation of news on Spain from around the world, in both English and Spanish.
ATTENDANCE
Students must attend class regularly and be punctual. For each time student is late or tardy, 1/2 point will be deducted from student's final exam grade.
SCHEDULE
Week 1(1/8) :
Introduction to course;
History of Spain: Iberians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Moors
Week 2 (1/15):
History of Spain (cont'd)
The Moors and Andalucia
-film: "El Cid" and "The Alhambra"
Week 3 (1/22):
History of Spain: The Conquistadors, the Spanish Inquisition
-film: "Land of the Conquistadors," Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus,
Week 4 (1/29):
Spanish Culture:
4-6 page summary of The New Spaniards due
Week 5
(2/5):
Spanish Culture
cont'd
-film Man of La Mancha
Week 6 (2/12):
discussion of Spanish flamenco, vino, and cerveza
--excerpt from Don Quixote, Spanish mysticism (Teresa of Avila and
John of the Cross)
Week 7 (2/19):
The French Invasion, Goya, the First Republic
film: "Goya"
Week 8 (2/26):
the Generation of 98, Spanish Civil War
Beever book due, along with written review (2/26)
2/26 mid-term exam
film: excerpts from "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
Week 9 (3/5):
Carlists, Spanish Civil War, Second Republic
Week 10 (3/12):
Spanish Civil War, Franco, the International Brigades
-film "Spanish Civil War," "Franco"
Week 11 (3/19):
Spanish Democracy: King Juan Carlos, Felipe Gonzalez, the Spanish constitution, the Coup of 1983
SPRING BREAK
Week 12 (4/2):
Spanish form of
government and governmental processes
Week 13 (4/9):
Catalonia, Galicia
the Basque country, Picasso's "Guernica",
film: excerpts from "Barcelona"
Spanish Terrorism
Week 14 (4/16):
Spain and contemporary politics, Jose Maria Aznar (PP)
film: "excerpts from several of Pedro Almodovar films including
"Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down," "Women on the Verge of a Nervous
Breakdown," and "All About My Mother."
film: "Tour of the Prado"
-6 page summary due on Woodward book (4/9)
Week 15 (4/23):
Spain and the jury system.
Future of Spain
Projects on Spanish Terrorism due (Woodworth book, etc.)
Final Exams: Thursday, May 2, 2:00-4:45.