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Anti-American sentiment in Spain

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An 1896 political cartoon criticising the United States' imperialistic intentions concerning Cuba.

Anti-American sentiments are perceived to be deeply entrenched within elements of Spanish society with several surveys conducted concerning the topic tending to back up assertion, with Spain ranking among the highest countries in terms of levels of anti-Americanism in Europe.[1] According to a German Marshall Fund study, feelings towards the United States in Spain were among the least favorable in Europe, second only to Turkey.[2] The sentiment has been historically far from exclusively being of a left-leaning nature, as until recently the United States have been seen under a very negative light by Conservative factions in Spain.[3]

Origin

The consideration of the Spanish-American War in 1898 as point of origin of anti-Americanism in Spain has been a common place in historiography, yet that extent has been recently disputed,[4][5] as negative stereotypes about the United States and Americans began to be forged already since the American declaration of independence in 1776.[6] The spread of prejudices and cliches against the United States, common in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, found a fertile ground in Spain.[7] 19th century Spanish anti-Americanism—staunchly conservative—developed via a pan-hispanist discourse that framed the US as an enemy to Spanish interests and the Catholic faith.[8]

The 1898 war, perceived in the US as a "splendid little war", meant a national disaster to many in Spain,[9] although, despite the attempts from the most obstinate right-wing sectors that continued engaging into feeding anti-American sentiment, the immediate aftermath left a focus on self-criticism and a grave crisis in the "national psyche" rather than a prevalence of revanchist stances within the public opinion.[10]

According to Alessandro Seregni, the 20th century Spanish anti-american sentiment was built upon two different political cultures ("groups" or "families"), a right-wing one and a left wing one.[11]

Development

During World War II right-wing anti-americanism, led by the Church, the Armed Forces and the Falange, was unabashed, with the latter's members becoming sponsors of the worldview underpinned by the "Hispanidad" in clash with the Monroe Doctrine.[12] Following the end of WWII right-wing antiamericanism became more defensive. Criticism and condemnation of American imperialism was widespread in Spain in the 1960s and 1970s.[13] The US involvement in foreign nations in the 1970s (often endorsing anti-democratic regimes) further tarnished the US' reputation among left-wing sensibilities.[14]

Modern day

For many authors the higher prevalence of anti-americanism in Spain over that of nearby nations has been due to the remembrance of 1898 and to the left-wing resentment of the American partnership with Franco.[13] Besides the former events, the 1953 Pact of Madrid (leading to the installment of US military bases in Spain), the US lack or enthusiasm for a democratic transition in the 1970s in Spain, the US endorsement of far-right dictatorships in Latin America during the Reagan administration, and the invasion of Iraq (including the killing of José Couso) have been also cited as events fueling anti-americanism.[15] Spain was in fact the European country with the highest levels of opposition to the Iraq war among the public opinion.[16]

References

  1. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2006, p. 258.
  2. ^ Chislett 2005.
  3. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2006, p. 257.
  4. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2012, p. 22.
  5. ^ Rodríguez Jiménez & Fernández de Miguel 2011, p. 10.
  6. ^ Rodríguez Jiménez & Fernández de Miguel 2011, p. 19.
  7. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2012, pp. 6–7.
  8. ^ Rodríguez Jiménez & Fernández de Miguel 2011, p. 7–8.
  9. ^ Rodríguez Jiménez 2010, p. 78.
  10. ^ Niño 2005, p. 72–73.
  11. ^ Neila 2018, p. 767.
  12. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2006, pp. 260–261.
  13. ^ a b Montero Jiménez 2014, p. 207.
  14. ^ Fernández de Miguel 2012, p. 425.
  15. ^ González Esteban 2011, p. 208.
  16. ^ Benito, Carlos (11 July 2016). "¿Somos los españoles anti americanos?". Ideal.

Bibliography

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