Carlos Aguirre, professor of history at the University of Oregon, will teach two six-week courses in English that address ne of the central themes in the histoy of the moder world, i.e. nationalism. The courses will focus on the interrelated history of nationalism in Spain and Spanish America through an historical and comparative approach. The courses will also address the study of nationalism and national identifies using different types of narratives, discourses, and rituals, the eruption and impact of wars and revolutions, and the display of powerful cultural symbols. The fact that the program is located in Spain and more specificaly in Asturias, will enhance the student’s ability to understand the historical and contemporar dimensions of natiionalism in the peninsula, since one of the challenges that Spanish society is facting today is the emergence of what scholars call “peripheral nationalisms” (in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and other regions) that, in some cases question the unity of Spain and highlight (and appose) what they perceived as a dentralized, hegemonic and non-inclusive Spanish version of nationalism.
Course 1: Nationalism, War, Revolution: Spain and Cuba from 1800 to the present
This course is a comparative study of nationalism in Spain and Cuba. Foreign and civil wars, migration, racial and ethnic divisions, and revolutions are among the social processes that have shaped national identities in both countries and that we will explore in this class. Each course is 40 contact hours.
Course 2: Soccer and Nationalism in Spain and Spanish America
This class will explore the complex and intertwined history of soccer in Spain and Spanish America from the late nineteenth century to present times, using nationalism as the core thematic focus. We will study the origins of soccer in both Spain and Spanish America, the ways in which it intersected with political and ideological projects of nation-state formation, and its centrality as a powerful symbol of national and regional identities. Each course is 40 contact hours.
The two courses are taught in English, however, as Professor Aguirre is a native Spanish speaker, students who complete the readings and course assignments in Spanish may receive Spanish credit for these two courses.
Course 3: Intensive Spanish
The intensive Spanish course includes grammar, vocabulary, writing workshop, and conversation starting at the intermediate level. The course takes place over five weeks for a total of up to 100 contact hours.
The program includes an overnight excursison to Madrid where students will visit the major sites in the city and surroundings (Valle de los Caidos and El Escorial) as well as tour the Santiago Bernabeu Soccer Club. In Oviedo Carlos lead several local visits in Oviedo and Gijon as well as an all day fieldtrip to Covadonga, there will be special group meals and attendance to Real Oviedo or Sporting de Gijon soccer matches. During the second part of the program the Univestiy of Oviedo will host a welcome Espicha, two all day fieldtrips complemented by several local visits led by GEO staff.
Visit the GEO Studyabroad website for program details and syllabi.