SPAN 2008 - Week 1 - Lecture

1. SPAN 2008 - Week 1 - Lecture Histories and Theories of Political Violence 1) Introductionto the theme of political violence 2) Political Violence in Spanish History 3) Course Outline 4) Defining ‘Terrorism’ 5) Seminar Readings

2. 1) Introductionto the theme of political violence ‘War (…) a continuation of political activity by other means’ (Carl von Clausewitz, On War, 1832)

3. What are the roots of violence? Is violence inherent to human ‘nature’? … to human societies? Is it specific to certain historical relationships and in particular power relations? Is violence ever justifiable? Is a world without violence possible?

4. POWER FORCE AUTHORITY COERCION PERSONAL v. POLITICAL VIOLENCE: e.g torture

5. 2) Political Violence in Spanish History Spain’s Black Legend … Barbarian Catholic conquistadors The Inquisition Persecution of Muslims and Jews The Spanish Civil War Franco’s dictatorship ETA

6. 3) Course Outline • ANARCHISM • FRANCOISM • ETA / GAL

7. 4) Defining ‘Terrorism’ • Term: • -Difficult and problematic use in association with political violence. • -Currently loaded with political and ethical connotations. • Historical roots: • French Revolution: ‘Virtue without Terror is powerless’ (Maximilien Robespierre, Year II – 1793-94) • 19th century Russian Revolutionaries.

8. 5) Seminar Readings for Week 2 Text 1: Julio Arostegui, ‘Violencia, sociedad y politica: la definición de la violencia’ in Aróstegui, ed. Violencia y política en España (Madrid: Marcial Pons, 1994) pp.17-55. Text 2: Frantz Fanon, ‘Concerning Violence’ in The Wretched of the Earth (London: Penguin, 1967), pp. 27-84. Film: Gillo Pontecorvo: The Battle of Algiers (1965) Text (optional): Walter Benjamin (1862-1940): ‘Critique of Violence’ (1921)

9. POLITICAL VIOLENCE TERRORISM LIBERATION COUNTER-TERRORISM TORTURE IMPERIALISM ANTI-TERRORISM FREEDOM-FIGHTERS DECOLONISATION