The Falsification of History and Identity Delirium: the Spanish Context

Abstract

This paper analyzes how History is manipulated by exclusionary nationalisms that use identity as propaganda. Firstly, I will highlight the relevance that History has for the nationalist agendas. I will then set examples of cases related to the nationalist “philosophy” of the Basque and Catalonian being. The history of the construction of Spain as a nation in the 19^th century had important identity obstacles that persist to this day. This construction had difficulty reconciling the Spanish ethnic nationalities with the modern idea of a political nation. The complex process of Spanish state unification often lacked the sensitivity to accommodate the need to build a modern state with the existence of a linguistic and cultural singularity in some regions. The imposition of a state project, which began to be considered unfavorable to these regions’ interests, led to a rejection of it and a retreat to tradition based on the myth of autochthony and their own culture.