The Changing Dynamics of Parliamentary Debates on Historical Memory in Spain 2004-2020

Authors: Irene Martín (Associate lecturer, UAM) Ricardo Dacosta (Predoc researcher, UAM) Since the first legal initiative on historical memory was presented in the Spanish Parliament in 2004, both the international and the national context have changed. We analyze whether these changes affected the terms in which the debate on post-transitional justice take place, and the positions the different political parties adopt on the issue. We aim at analyzing these changes by looking at the debates related to historical memory that have taken place in the Spanish Parliament between 2004, when the first law on historical memory was proposed in Spain, and nowadays. More specifically, want to see to what extent: a) International justice considerations have become increasingly present b) Increased party fragmentation and the appearance of new parties has led to changes in the discourses of traditional political parties For this, we will analyze from a dynamic point of view the content of the legislation related to historical memory produced during this period, as well as the debates around it. We will combine quantitative and qualitative techniques in our analysis. Our insights will benefit from the REPAST H2020 project on conflicts of the past and European integration in which both authors currently work.