Souvenir Vaccine: Greece, Portugal, Spain
- ATHENS, Greece — A far-right Greek lawmaker, Nikos Papadopoulus of the Niki party, known for his religious fundamentalism, anti-immigration stance, and pro-Putin views, disrupted an exhibition at the...
- Tsiara, who also curated "Democracy," an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Greek military junta (1967-1974), described the incident as "horrible." The exhibition, a...
- Thes three nations are part of what political scientist Samuel Huntington termed "the third wave of democratization," beginning in April 1974 with Portugal's Carnation Revolution and extending to...
Democracy Under Threat: Echoes of Dictatorship in Europe
Table of Contents
ATHENS, Greece — A far-right Greek lawmaker, Nikos Papadopoulus of the Niki party, known for his religious fundamentalism, anti-immigration stance, and pro-Putin views, disrupted an exhibition at the National Gallery of Athens on March 10. Papadopoulus entered the gallery and removed four paintings he deemed “blasphemous,” according to Syrago Tsiara,director of the Pinacoteca.
Tsiara, who also curated “Democracy,” an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Greek military junta (1967-1974), described the incident as “horrible.” The exhibition, a collaboration with institutions like the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, showcased artistic responses to repression in Greece, Spain, and Portugal.
Thes three nations are part of what political scientist Samuel Huntington termed “the third wave of democratization,” beginning in April 1974 with Portugal’s Carnation Revolution and extending to Latin America. The disrupted works were inspired by Goya’s ”Los Caprichos” (The whims).
“It is assumed that museums are safe spaces,freedom of expression,but not even that is assured,” Tsiara said. “We live a critical period, of cultural wars and the rise of the extreme right and neo -fascism, and not only in Europe.Democratic values are being attacked by multiple fronts and the worst thing we can do is take them for granted. we must defend them every day.”
Tsiara’s concerns echo sentiments expressed by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez during the opening of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Francisco Franco’s death. Sánchez warned that freedom is not permanently guaranteed and can be lost, referencing the dictatorships that replaced democracies a century ago.
The events brought Tsiara together with Maria inácia Rezola, a Portuguese historian overseeing the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Carnation Revolution, and Carmina Testrán, responsible for Spain’s commemorative acts marking the beginning of its transition to democracy. The discussions, held at the Documentary Center of the Historical Memory of Salamanca, highlighted both the similarities and differences in the three countries’ experiences.
The Significance of commemoration
Huntington also posited that each wave of democratization is followed by an anti-democratic backlash. The question arises: Can these commemorations of the end of repression serve as a safeguard against future authoritarianism?
Tsiara believes that how societies deal with the remnants of dictatorial regimes is crucial. She suggests that these vestiges could either become sites of nostalgic pilgrimage or be reinterpreted as spaces for critical reflection on the past from a democratic viewpoint. Tsiara favors contextualization over elimination, advocating for turning such places into centers for critical thinking.
She recounted her experience visiting the Valley of Cuelgamuros, where Franco was once buried, describing the oppressive atmosphere. She also noted the controversy surrounding the Santa Comba Dão Interpretation Center, also known as the Salazar Museum, dedicated to the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. Concerns exist that it could become a pilgrimage site for those nostalgic for the dictatorship.
“The story is not erased, but you have to address it with lucidity so that there are no mistakes,” Tsiara said.
In Spain, even placing a plaque commemorating victims of torture during the Franco regime at the former General Security Directorate has faced legal challenges. The conservative People’s Party (PP) in Madrid initiated legal reforms to prevent the site from being declared a place of memory, arguing it was incompatible with neutrality and historical truth. The Constitutional Court has temporarily suspended these reforms.
The Spanish government plans an international competition to reimagine the Valley of Cuelgamuros, but negotiations with the Church, which oversees the Benedictine community at the site, have caused delays. Work is projected to begin in late 2026. Previous attempts to address Franco’s legacy, such as a 2011 proposal to move his remains, were also delayed, with the exhumation finally occurring in 2019.
Education and the Next Generation
Commemorative programs often target younger generations. Surveys indicate that a meaningful percentage of young people, especially men, express a preference for authoritarianism over democracy in certain circumstances.This highlights the risk of historical revisionism and the potential for pro-Franco sentiments to gain traction among those with limited knowledge of the past.
Gustán said that one focus of the commemorative year is “young and democracy.” The initiative includes collaborations with digital content creators to communicate key messages in a relevant way. An planned interactive “escape room” designed to teach about the dictatorship has generated both interest and criticism.
In addition,pedagogical materials have been developed to facilitate classroom discussions about the dictatorship and promote intergenerational dialog. Gustán emphasized the importance of connecting historical events to everyday life,illustrating how the dictatorship impacted personal freedoms.
Portugal has implemented similar strategies, with Rezola noting that April 25, the date of the Carnation Revolution, is a standard part of the curriculum. children learn about the revolution from a young age and even sing “Grândola, Vila Morena,” a song banned during the dictatorship that became a symbol of the revolution.
In Greece,Tsiara said that the student uprising at the Polytechnic against the Colonels’ dictatorship in 1973 is commemorated annually in schools.The “Democracy” exhibition also welcomed numerous teachers who brought their students to discuss the events.
Spain’s 2022 Democratic Memory Law mandates that the Spanish education system include the study of democratic memory.However, some observers note that implementation varies depending on the teacher. There are engaging initiatives, such as the Navarro Institute of Memory, but the approach must be interdisciplinary.
During a meeting with political science students,the question arose: Why does anti-democratic sentiment seem to be gaining popularity among young people? A university professor shared an example from Portugal,where textbooks explicitly address the “repression mechanisms” of the dictatorship and encourage students to identify countries that currently violate human rights. She lamented the difficulty of finding similar textbooks in Spain.
Democracy Under Threat: A Q&A on Europe’s Struggle with Dictatorship’s Echoes
In a world grappling with rising authoritarianism and historical revisionism,it’s crucial to understand the threats to democracy. This Q&A draws on recent events and historical context to explore the challenges facing European democracies, especially concerning the rise of anti-democratic sentiment and the importance of education in safeguarding freedom.
The article begins with an account of a far-right Greek lawmaker, nikos papadopoulus, disrupting an exhibition at the National Gallery of Athens. This act, where he removed artworks deemed “blasphemous,” highlighted the vulnerability of artistic expression and the rise of cultural clashes and the extreme right. This incident became a symbol of the broader attack on democratic values.
The article connects the current concerns to political scientist Samuel Huntington’s “third wave of democratization,” referencing the end of dictatorships in Greece, Spain, and Portugal in the 1970s. It highlights that each wave of democratization is often followed by an anti-democratic backlash.
These countries are commemorating the end of their dictatorships in various ways:
- Greece: The “Democracy” exhibition marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Greek military junta (1967-1974). The student uprising against the Colonels’ dictatorship in 1973 continues to be commemorated annually in schools.
- Spain: The government is implementing the 2022 Democratic Memory Law, requiring the study of democratic memory in the education system. Commemorative acts mark the beginning of its transition to democracy, and plans are underway for projects like reimagining the Valley of Cuelgamuros.
- Portugal: Portugal commemorates the carnation Revolution (April 25th), a standard part of the curriculum. School children learn about the revolution from a young age and sing “Grândola, Vila Morena,” a song banned during the dictatorship and now a symbol of the revolution.
Several challenges are identified:
- Historical Revisionism: There is a risk of historical revisionism and the potential for pro-authoritarian sentiments to gain traction, especially among younger generations with limited historical knowledge.
- Political Opposition: In spain, legal challenges and political opposition, such as in the case of the PP opposing efforts to declare a site a place of memory, hinder efforts to address the past.
- Conflicting Interpretations: The fate of places like the Valley of Cuelgamuros (Franco’s burial site) and the Salazar Museum in Portugal highlight differing interpretations of the past and the potential for these places to become sites of nostalgic pilgrimage instead of venues for critical reflection.
- Implementation Variations: In Spain, the implementation of the Democratic memory Law varies depending on the teacher.
Education is viewed as critical for several reasons:
- raising Awareness of Repression: Educational initiatives, such as the Portuguese example highlighting repression mechanisms of the dictatorship, enable students to critically analyze the past and identify contemporary human rights violations.
- Promoting Critical Thinking: Tsiara emphasizes the importance of turning remnants of dictatorial regimes into centers for critical thinking and reflection, rather than erasing or ignoring the past.
- Intergenerational Dialog: Educational programs are developed to foster discussions about the dictatorships to counter historical amnesia and revisionism.
- Connecting History to Everyday Life: Initiatives like connecting historical events to everyday experiences during the dictatorships, as stated by Gustan connect with the experience, understanding and impact on personal freedoms.
Surveys show that a meaningful percentage of young people express a preference for authoritarianism. This highlights the risk of historical revisionism due to a lack of understanding of the past and the threat this poses to democratic values. Furthermore, the rise in popularity of anti-democratic sentiment indicates a need for more effective educational efforts.
The article outlines several educational strategies:
- Curriculum Integration: Portugal has incorporated the study of the Carnation Revolution into its curriculum, and Spain mandates the study of democratic memory.
- Interactive Learning: The initiative includes collaborations with digital content creators to communicate key messages in a relevant way, i.e. “Escape Room” is designed to teach about the dictatorship.
- Classroom Discussions and Dialogue: Pedagogical materials are developed to facilitate classroom discussions about the dictatorship and promote intergenerational dialogue.
- Focus on Personal Freedoms: Educators are encouraged to illustrate how the dictatorship impacted personal freedoms by connecting historical events to everyday life.
Yes, several initiatives are facing challenges:
- Spain’s Memory Law struggles: The implementation of the 2022 Democratic Memory law is inconsistent due to varying approaches among teachers.
- The Valley of Cuelgamuros: Negotiations with the Church and delays have hampered efforts to reimagine this site.
- Salazar Museum: Concerns exist that the Salazar museum in Portugal might become a pilgrimage site for those who are nostalgic about the dictatorship.
The main takeaways are:
- The resurgence of anti-democratic sentiments represents a significant threat to democratic principles.
- Commemorating the end of dictatorships and facing historical injustices are crucial.
- Education, particularly integrating historical memory into curricula and promoting critical thinking, is essential in safeguarding democracy.
- the challenges of historical interpretation, political opposition, and ensuring the success of educational initiatives must be carefully managed.
The future implications revolve around a sustained effort to protect democratic values:
- Continuous Education: Ongoing commitment to education that emphasizes the dangers of authoritarianism and the value of democratic principles.
- Active Engagement: active participation in civic life, defending freedom of expression, and not taking democracy for granted.
- Vigilance & Adaptation: Continuous observation of societal trends, and adaptation of educational strategies to counter historical revisionism and prevent the spread of anti-democratic sentiments.
Here are some examples of educational initiatives happening:
| Country | Initiative | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Curriculum focusing on Carnation Revolution | Learning about the dictatorship through the outlook of the revolution. Singing “Grândola,Vila Morena”. |
| Greece | Annual commemoration of student uprising at the Polytechnic in schools. | Remembering the student protests against the Colonels’ dictatorship. |
| Spain | Mandatory study of democratic memory through the 2022 Democratic Memory Law | Focusing on democratic principles and historical memory, though implementation varies. |
| Creation of engaging content | Collaborations with digital content creators to communicate key messages in a relevant way. | |
| Facilitation of discussion & dialogue | Pedagogical materials for discussing the dictatorship to promote intergenerational dialogue. | |
| connection to modern day | Illustrating how the dictatorship impacted personal freedoms to modern life. |