the relevance of the rise in decolonial movements in Europe driven by people of migrant or racialised origin . These movements have been in dialogue with the aforementioned phenomena and have incorporated into their practice the denunciation of the persistence of symbols and narratives of colonialism and slavery . Their action has been the main driving force behind this issue , putting reparations for colonialism on the political and social agenda .
Some reflections on the Spanish case .
Although it is too early to draw consistent and definitive conclusions , and although a second sampling phase is needed to complete the results , some more concrete interpretative key points can be considered on the status of the issue in Spain in relation to the management of colonial memory :
• The “ law of historical memory ”: reference to this law passed by the Congress of Deputies in 2007 is obligatory , not because of its contribution to the colonial issue , but because of its contribution to disavowal . 5 This law , which establishes measures in favour of those who suffered persecution or violence during the civil war and dictatorship , does not once mention the word “ Africa ”; “ colony ”; “ Guinea ”; “ Morocco ”; or “ Sahara ”. The first law passed in Spain , more than 30 years after the death of dictator Francisco Franco , on the memory of its victims , forgot — or chose to forget — that Franco ’ s Spain had colonies in Africa that suffered the dictatorship as much as the Spaniards on the peninsula . The regime also had deep colonial roots . However , despite pointing out this missed opportunity , we believe that the colonial question deserves its own law of memory — something that has not yet been raised in any instance .
5
Although it is popularly known as the “ law of historical memory ”, its correct name is “ Law recognising and extending rights and establishing measures in favour of those who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and the Dictatorship ” ( Law 52 / 2007 , 26 December ).
• Few reparation and recognition initiatives and colonial nostalgia : Spain has been one of the world ’ s major colonial powers in the modern era , the third most involved nation in the Atlantic slave trade and a minor colonial power in contemporary times . For this reason , one would expect to find in this context movements for reparation and remembrance similar to those found in the US , France and Britain . It would also be logical to find a political debate around demands , revision of school curricula , symbolism and recognition of responsibilities . But as the particularities of the “ law of historical memory ” already anticipate , the colonial issue is ignored , even when not claimed . There is an absence of memory to which nostalgic memories are added — an upsurge that can also be detected in the Dutch study , although reparation initiatives have been more numerous there , even with the emergence of an anti-colonialist political party . This comparison with what is happening in other European contexts is a task that needs to be further explored .
• The academy ’ s lack of attention to the colonial issue is reflected in the scarce presence of subjects such as African history in state universities — it is only compulsory in three history degrees . Nor are there any chairs or areas of colonial history or colonial studies . Likewise , colonialism barely features on school curricula in the compulsory stages . These elements must also be taken into account when analysing the absences , disavowals and lack of interest .
Bibliography
Scott , J . W . ( 2020 ). Calling History to Account : The Movement for Reparations for Slavery in the United States . In On the Judgment of History ( pp . 51-78 ). Columbia University Press .
Piqueras , J . A . ( 2020 ). Slavery in Spain : a transatlantic bond . Los Libros de la Catarata .
López , J . L . C ., & López , J . L . C . ( 1989 ). La esclavitud negra en la España peninsular del siglo XVI ( Vol . 60 ). University of Salamanca .
Franklin , V . P . ( 2013 ). Commentary-Reparations as a Development Strategy : The CARICOM Reparations Commission . Journal of African American History , 98 ( 3 ), 363-366 .
Cullors , P . ( 2018 ). Abolition and reparations : Histories of resistance , transformative justice , and accountability . Harv . L . Rev ., 132 , 1684 . overview
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