There is not a single Western democracy in which the left is so willing to legitimize nationalism intellectually and politically
For decades, at least since the catastrophe of 1998 and not to mention the end of the civil war that led us to dictatorship, we Spaniards have complained that we are exceptional: a country without enlightenment, at the mercy of the customs of the professionals
For decades, at least since the catastrophe of 1998 and not to mention the end of the civil war that led us to dictatorship, we Spaniards have complained that we are exceptional: a country without enlightenment, at the mercy of the habit of statements, burdened by illiteracy and corruption, unable to join the turbulent currents of liberal modernity. Bitter fate of Spain! But constitutional democracy came and with it the admirable work of subsequent generations of historians determined to show that national history was not as anomalous as we like to think – the dark pleasures of fatalism. They have so convinced us that all countries are the same, since each has its peculiarities and therefore all are normal; We were and are no exception.
We can take it for granted; It’s even appreciated. But what about our present? If Spanish history is not exceptional, can it be denied? Our political life is currently showing unusual features that place us in a separate category within the European framework with which we have to make the appropriate comparison? It takes a lot of imagination – or a lot of ideology – to claim that Spain is today a country like the others.
As far as the eye can see, there is not a single Western democracy planning an amnesty to those who have not only proudly attacked the constitutional order, but have also reaffirmed their willingness to do so again if necessary. Nor do we know where a handful of nationalist parties have been so successful in imposing their abusive conditions on the rest of the country, including officially introducing a confederal model that involves maintaining the resource privileges of the richest communities. There is no known national parliament in which languages ​​other than the official languages ​​of the state are spoken – pay attention to the nuances; as Leftists are not known to be so willing to legitimize nationalism intellectually and politically. To make matters worse, for some time now we Spaniards have been debating not the best public policy, but the nature of our political system: all of the government’s partners are, to varying degrees, avowed enemies of the 1978 Constitution.
I do not enter into an assessment of the government’s habitual use of lies or illiberal practices; For this reason there is -from Trump to Hungary- A lot of competitors. But it is a shame that the work of our best historians has been so carelessly ruined.
