Inaugural Lecture: A Young Democracy? Youth and the Spanish Transition

Inaugural Lecture: A Young Democracy? Youth and the Spanish Transition

The Inaugural Lecture of Duncan Wheeler, School of Languages Cultures & Societies, Chair of Spanish Studies

With Introduction by Professor Maria Delgado (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London) 

Following General Franco’s death, Spain embarked on a journey to become a fully-fledged democracy. This was facilitated by the relative youth of the Spanish population, many of whom had no direct memories of the Civil War. In 1982, the leadership of the Spanish Socialist Party, amongst the youngest of any major European party, rode into government with the slogan ‘Por el cambio’. In many respects a golden age for young Spaniards, they were also frequently victim to unemployment and drug addiction, two of the major challenges to face the population in the 1980s. In this lecture, I explore how and why a greater sensitivity to demographics and generational affiliations might nuance understandings of Spain’s young democracy.

The lecture will be followed by a reception in the Terrace (Students’ Union), University of Leeds (6:30pm onwards)

Queries related to this event should be directed to lcsresearch@leeds.ac.uk