This seminar is devoted to a comparative analysis of aspects of Italian and Spanish history since 1896, date of Italian colonial disaster, and 1898, date of Spain's loss of empire. Consideration will be given to economic underdevelopment; the persistence of regionalisms; the role of the Catholic Church; the weakness and collapse of liberal political systems; the emergence of fascism, socialism, communism, and anarchism; the regimes of Mussolini and Franco; and the construction and development of democracy in both countries. Emphasis will be devoted to the fascist regime in Italy and to the Civil War and Franco regime in Spain. Seminar materials will include interpretive works, memoirs, documents, films, and contemporary accounts. |