Excerpts from
Book Reviews

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“The idea of the ‘Two Spains’ has long been a dominant theme in Spanish historical narrative. Nicholas Manganas’ achievement in Las dos Españas: Terror and Crisis in Contemporary Spain is to make it newly relevant by reframing it within today’s context of terror politics. Timely, well written and clearly structured, the book guides us through the complexities of identity politics and media narratives in contemporary Spain. Its main premise is that the concept of two opposing Spains has been an overriding influence on Spanish discourse since the Civil War and continues to influence political, social and ideological life in Spain today. […]

One of the strengths of the book is its multidisciplinary approach, using theories of narrative, terror and victimhood to explore Spanish political discourse. These complex issues are clearly presented and result in a thought-provoking analysis of contemporary Spain.”

Dr. Siân Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, University of Cardiff

Bulletin of Spanish Studies, vol. XCV, no. 7, 2018, pp. 906-07.

“Manganas succeeds in showing the process by which political terror was narrativized by government discourses corresponding to different political ideologies, and how terrorism was converted into an instrument for the promotion of patriotic rhetoric. This main thesis, greatly influenced by the works of the anthropologist Begoña Aretxaga (1960–2002), is convincing. Also convincing is his argument about how the social and economic dimension of the current economic crisis in Spain (2008–present) has recently replaced the more specifically political component provided by terrorism in the traditional political debate. […]

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Manganas’ book is a debatable study in many aspects, but it is also innovative and provocative. His analysis reflects the use made of terrorism in Spain by the mass media and the political class for particular ends. The author stresses three reasons: political legitimation, the dynamics of electoral confrontation and the resignification of state nationalism.”

Dr. Fernando Molina, University of the Basque Country

Research Fellow, Department of Contemporary History

International Journal of Iberian Studies, vol. 31, no. 1, 2018. pp. 63-65.