This work provides a solid foundation of all the elements that a database should contain , with a dual function in mind . On the one hand , it seeks to disseminate and support the promotion of further action , and on the other hand , it aims to be a publicly accessible tool that will contribute to building more comprehensive knowledge in the future .
This effort must go hand in hand with the creation of specific spaces for debate involving actors and professionals . These spaces are fundamental to define the categories , reflect on the interconnections between them and improve the methodology , as well as support the permeability of TJ models that work to include this past in their development , taking into account the particularities of each context .
We consider that this work should incorporate some specific reflections on the Spanish case and this study , which we briefly point out , although we also refer to the first report , where some of these key points are also provided in more detail .
Firstly , collaboration between actors and agents of the anti-colonial and antiracist movements , as well as professionals from disciplines such as history , art history , sociology and memory studies , is of crucial importance . We recognise and are aware , from a place of self-criticism , that academia needs to reflect deeply on the biases inherent in its composition , which does not adequately reflect social and class diversity . This problem is further exacerbated when we consider the greater availability of resources and platforms that academia possesses compared to grassroots social movements , which often leads to the reproduction of situations of discrimination and marginalisation . This situation is particularly worrying when drafting a comprehensive history of these movements , which , although they are in the public interest and should be tackled from a variety of perspectives , show a palpable imbalance .
This systemic issue appeals to us , and for this reason , our intention has always been to make this knowledge available to the public and to facilitate access to it . We understand that this progress is not possible without including the voices of the protagonists , whom we recognise as the fundamental basis of this transformation .
Secondly , the preoccupation with expressions of nostalgia , the resurgence of theories related to the “ black legend ” and the rise of the influence of the far right cannot be overlooked in these studies . As previously mentioned , throughout our research , we have also identified reactive actions and initiatives that respond to the new paradigm , reinforcing a narrative of the past based on emotional and identity-based adherence to symbols of the empire . This concern is particularly relevant given that this trend is associated with a hardening of racist and anti-immigration discourses , as well as an increase in violence .
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