The raison d'etre behind The Spanish Second Republic Revisited is not to defend a particular ideological or political standpoint but to elucidate and explain this dynamic, agitated period in Spanish history in all its complexity. Certainly, this does not mean that the authors of this volume share a common vision of the Second Republic, but it does signal their collective intent to escape the ideological certainties that have conditioned so much of the work on the regime.
Nigel Townson, Sussex Studies in Spanish History The raison d etre behind The Spanish Second Republic Revisited is not to defend a particular ideological or political standpoint but to elucidate and explain this dynamic, agitated period in Spanish history in all its complexity. Certainly, this does not mean that the authors of this volume share a common vision of the Second Republic, but it does signal their collective intent to escape the ideological certainties that have conditioned so much of the work on the regime. Nigel Townson, Sussex Studies in Spanish History The present volume is a welcome addition to Nigel Townson s Sussex Studies in Spanish History which continues to offer to English-language readers significant studies of twentieth-century Spain. Like all good histories, this collection of fourteen essays by mostly Spanish scholars debunks myths, i.e. an idyllic vision of the Republic and a Manichean version of its collapse (p. 4). Given its goal of de-sacralization, it is fitting that Stanley Payne provides A Critical Overview of the Republic. His essay is remarkable for its ability to place the Second Republic into the context of interwar European politics and to compare it rather unfavourably to the more democratic Weimar Republic which maintained equal constitutional rights for all sectors of politics and society (p. 11). Payne makes the stimulating case that the final phase of the Spanish Republic should be compared not to Weimar of 1933 but rather of 1923 amid political crisis, hyperinflation, social collapse, political extremism, and, finally, insurrections from left and right (p. 15). The inclusion [in this volume] of more social/economic context might lead to a greater understanding of both the left s revolutionary desires and the right s fear of the same. Nevertheless, this coherent collection accomplishes its main goal of offering to scholars the most innovative scholarship on the Second Republic. All students of Spanish history will profit greatly from consulting it. Michael Seidman, University of North Carolina, Bulletin for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies The present volume is a welcome addition to Nigel Townson's Sussex Studies in Spanish History which continues to offer to English-language readers significant studies of twentieth-century Spain. Like all good histories, this collection of fourteen essays by mostly Spanish scholars debunks myths, i.e. 'an idyllic vision of the Republic and a Manichean version of its collapse' (p. 4). ... Given its goal of 'de-sacralization, ' it is fitting that Stanley Payne provides 'A Critical Overview' of the Republic. His essay is remarkable for its ability to place the Second Republic into the context of interwar European politics and to compare it - rather unfavourably - to the more democratic Weimar Republic which 'maintained equal constitutional rights for all sectors of politics and society' (p. 11). Payne makes the stimulating case that the final phase of the Spanish Republic should be compared not to Weimar of 1933 but rather of 1923 'amid ... political crisis, hyperinflation, social collapse, political extremism, and, finally, insurrections from left and right' (p. 15). ... ...The inclusion [in this volume] of more social/economic context might lead to a greater understanding of both the left's revolutionary desires and the right's fear of the same. Nevertheless, this coherent collection accomplishes its main goal of offering to scholars the most innovative scholarship on the Second Republic. All students of Spanish history will profit greatly from consulting it.
Michael Seidman, University of North Carolina, Bulletin for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies The winners of great struggles often write histories of their triumphs, and this was true in Spain during the decades of the Franco regime of works about the Republic and Civil War, 1931-39. Today, few would lend credence to much of the history that was published under this regime's auspices. But the losers - democrats, socialists, and anarchists, among others on the Left - won admirers who, during the same decades, also wrote histories that admired the losers and were starkly partisan. Hence, an unchanging stalemate in historical interpretation persisted: for the Francoists, their cause was nation and church against communism, among other evils; for others, the events pitted a democratic people against fascism. Over the past three decades, however, new critical historians have found their voice in Spain and elsewhere. This important volume, devoted to key movements and moments in the Republic, is a collection of 15 articles by such historians, most of whom are Spanish. Their work is both powerful and provocative, and will invite both severe criticism and thoughtful engagement. For example, one historian observes that leftist socialists 'were embarked on a trail of absurdities...' and ultimately were irresponsible. Summing up: Essential.
Choice The raison d'etre behind The Spanish Second Republic Revisited is not to defend a particular ideological or political standpoint but to elucidate and explain this dynamic, agitated period in Spanish history in all its complexity. Certainly, this does not mean that the authors of this volume share a common vision of the Second Republic, but it does signal their collective intent to escape the ideological certainties that have conditioned so much of the work on the regime.
Nigel Townson, Sussex Studies in Spanish History The winners of great struggles often write histories of their triumphs, and this was true in Spain during the decades of the Franco regime of works about the Republic and Civil War, 1931 39. Today, few would lend credence to much of the history that was published under this regime s auspices. But the losers democrats, socialists, and anarchists, among others on the Left won admirers who, during the same decades, also wrote histories that admired the losers and were starkly partisan. Hence, an unchanging stalemate in historical interpretation persisted: for the Francoists, their cause was nation and church against communism, among other evils; for others, the events pitted a democratic people against fascism. Over the past three decades, however, new critical historians have found their voice in Spain and elsewhere. This important volume, devoted to key movements and moments in the Republic, is a collection of 15 articles by such historians, most of whom are Spanish. Their work is both powerful and provocative, and will invite both severe criticism and thoughtful engagement. For example, one historian observes that leftist socialists were embarked on a trail of absurdities and ultimately were irresponsible. Summing up: Essential. Choice The winners of great struggles often write histories of their triumphs, and this was true in Spain during the decades of the Franco regime of works about the Republic and Civil War, 1931-39. Today, few would lend credence to much of the history that was published under this regime's auspices. But the losers - democrats, socialists, and anarchists, among others on the Left - won admirers who, during the same decades, also wrote histories that admired the losers and were starkly partisan. Hence, an unchanging stalemate in historical interpretation persisted: for the Francoists, their cause was nation and church against communism, among other evils; for others, the events pitted a democratic people against fascism. Over the past three decades, however, new critical historians have found their voice in Spain and elsewhere. This important volume, devoted to key movements and moments in the Republic, is a collection of 15 articles by such historians, most of whom are Spanish. Their work is both powerful and provocative, and will invite both severe criticism and thoughtful engagement. For example, one historian observes that leftist socialists 'were embarked on a trail of absurdities...' and ultimately were irresponsible. Summing up: Essential.
Choice