International Journal of Iberian Studies - Volume 34, Issue 1, 2021

Since the emergence of trans-activism in Barcelona (pioneer in the Spanish context) in 1970, identity categories to refer to people who do not identify with the socially-assigned gender identity have experienced a major transformation. In this article, we analyse the evolution of identity categories related to gender diversity from 1978 to 2010 in order to recover the history of trans-activism and explore its specificities with regard to the hegemonic logic in other western countries. In the period analysed, five associations were identified and studied, revealing a trend that predominantly conceives identity categories in a fluid manner, contrary to the main trans-activism in western countries, which reinforced the medical category ‘transsexual’ in opposition to those of ‘homosexual’ and ‘transvestite’. Moreover, in this period, a profound change can be observed in the political subject (from trans-women working in sex work to middle-class trans-boys), as well as a transformation of alliances: from the rejection of trans-associations by gay and lesbian associations to the subsequent coalition and progressive rapprochement towards feminism.

Desde el surgimiento del activismo trans en Barcelona (pionero en el contexto español) en 1970, las categorías identitarias para referirse a las personas que no se identifican con la identidad de género socialmente asignada han experimentado una gran transformación. En este artículo, analizamos la evolución de las categorías identitarias relacionadas con la diversidad de género entre 1978 y 2010 con el fin de recuperar la historia del activismo trans y explorar sus especificidades con respecto a la lógica hegemónica en otros países occidentales. En el periodo analizado, cinco asociaciones fueron identificadas y estudiadas, revelando una tendencia a concebir las categorías identitarias de manera fluida, contrariamente al principal activismo trans en los países occidentales, que reforzó la categoría médica ‘transexual’ en contraste con las de ‘homosexual’ y ‘travestido’. Además, en este periodo, se puede observar un cambio profundo en el sujeto político (desde mujeres trans trabajadoras sexuales en el primer activismo hasta chicos trans de clase media al final del periodo), así como una transformación de las alianzas: del rechazo a las asociaciones trans por parte de asociaciones gays y lesbianas a la posterior coalición y acercamiento progresivo hacia el feminismo.

This article offers an overview of the Portuguese general election of October 2019 and of its impact in the ongoing evolution of the Portuguese party system. The election results are interpreted by looking at the socio-economic and political context in which it took place, as well as the protagonists, issues and party positions of the electoral campaign. Additionally, the process leading to the formation of the socialist minority government is also examined. It is argued that changing patterns have mostly been reverted and that the party system that comes out of this election is a more stable one. This was mainly due to institutional constraints that limit the potential of change. Nevertheless, the increasing role of the left-right cleavage, alongside the entrance of new parties in parliament might pave the way for future realignments of the Portuguese party system.

Este artigo apresenta uma análise da eleição legislativa de Outubro de 2019 em Portugal e do seu impacto na corrente evolução do sistema partidário português. Os resultados eleitorais são interpretados através de um olhar sobre o contexto socio- económico e político em que esta ocorreu, assim como dos protagonistas, assuntos e posições dos partidos durante a campanha eleitoral. Adicionalmente, o processo que levou à formação de um governo minoritário socialista é também examinado. Argumenta-se que os padrões de mudança foram essencialmente revertidos e que o sistema partidário reforçou a sua estabilidade nesta eleição. Isto deveu-se essencialmente a constrangimentos institucionais que limitam o potencial de mudança. No entanto, o papel mais saliente da clivagem esquerda-direita, assim como a entrada de novos partidos no parlamento podem abrir o caminho para futuros realinhamentos no sistema partidário português.

The early 1960s in Spain saw the beginnings of a cycle of protest against the dictatorship of Francisco Franco that would end by rendering its continuity unviable after the dictator’s death in 1975. The process of building democracy was undertaken bidirectionally, both from ‘above’ and from ‘below’, and it involved multiple actors. This article pays special attention to those ‘democratizing agents’ in civil society who acted in the cultural and educational spheres, as teachers, students, protest singers or members of the cultural centres and neighbourhood associations that emerged at that time, especially in rural Andalusia. It argues that through day-to-day micro-conflicts and micro-mobilizations, those actors acquired and transmitted civic–democratic guidelines and values.

Desde comienzos de la década de los sesenta se inició en España un ciclo de protesta contra la dictadura de Francisco Franco que acabaría por hacer inviable su continuidad a la muerte del dictador en 1975. El proceso de construcción de la democracia se llevó a cabo bidireccionalmente, tanto ‘desde arriba’ como ‘desde abajo’, y en él intervinieron múltiples actores. Este artículo presta atención a aquellos ‘agentes democratizadores’ de la sociedad civil que actuaron en los ámbitos educativo y cultural, tales como profesores, estudiantes, representantes de la canción protesta o miembros de los centros culturales y las asociaciones vecinales que surgieron en esta época, especialmente en la Andalucía rural. Se defiende que, a través de los microconflictos y las micromovilizaciones cotidianas, estos actores adquirían y transmitían pautas y valores cívico-democráticos.

Review of: Gender and Violence in Spanish Culture: From Vulnerability to Accountability, María José Gámez Fuentes and Rebeca Maseda García (eds) (2018)

New York: Peter Lang, 235 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-43313-998-7, h/bk, £70.30

ISBN 978-1-43313-998-4, PDF, £70.35

ISBN 978-1-43314-000-6, EPUB, £70.35

Review of: Unite, Proletarian Brothers! Radicalism and Revolution in the Second Spanish Republic, Matthew Kerry (2020)

London: University of London Press and Royal Historical Society, 252 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-91270-250-3, p/bk, £25.00

Review of: Territorial Politics and the Party System in Spain: Continuity and Change since the Financial Crisis, Caroline Gray (2020)

Abingdon: Routledge, 167 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-85743-983-0, h/bk, £84.00, ISBN 978-0-42929-006-0, e/bk, £25.89

Review of: Dictatorship and the Electoral Vote: Francoism and the Portuguese New State Regime in Comparative Perspective, 1945-1975, Carlos Domper Lasús (2020)

Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 267 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-84519-987-6, h/bk, £75.00