Spain's Historical Memory Law: a study of successful historical reconciliation

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  • March 21, 2019
Creator
  • Dimitrov, Ivo Tzvetanov
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science
Abstract
  • I explore the Historical Memory Law (Ley 52/2007) as a successful model of historical reconciliation. I argue that the HML can be conceived as a renewed source of legitimacy for the Spanish state and as a progressive model of reconciliation, applicable to democratizing countries. First, I address how the pacted transition has affected reparation and rehabilitation efforts. Second, I respond to the critics by extensively analyzing the legal framework and victim compensations from the onset of the Transition. Autonomous division of power and the legacy of the pacted transition emerge as limiting factors in HML implementation. Thirdly, I identify left-leaning regional parties as the key actor in the political effort and propose a comprehensive four-stage model that maps out the reconciliation effort (negation, amnesia, accommodation, reconciliation). I conclude that historical reconciliation will deal with memory recuperation (exhumations, symbols removal, sentences annulment) and depend on a new generation of post-Transition Spaniards.
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  • In Copyright
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  • "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Political Science."
Advisor
  • Stephens, John
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Place of publication
  • Chapel Hill, NC
Access right
  • Open access
Date uploaded
  • March 18, 2013

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