Summer 2010 - St Antony's College - University of Oxford

Symposium in honour of
Raymond Carr
Julio Crespo MacLennan, Carles Casajuana (Spanish Ambassador), Sir Raymond Carr and Margaret MacMillan (Photo: Rob Judges)
The symposium on Spain in the
twentieth century that took place
on 6th May was organised with
several aims. First, to discuss the
historiography of 20th century Spain
from the perspective of the 21st
century, and explain why some of the
country´s major events have attracted
so much international attention.
Secondly, to honour former warden
of St Antony´s College, Sir Raymond
Carr, who made such an important
contribution to the knowledge of
modern Spain. Finally, to celebrate
the thirtieth anniversary of the
Ortega y Gasset University Institute,
one of the most important academic
centres in Spain. The institution was
originally conceived at St Antony´s
by José Varela Ortega and other old
Antonians and at present it aims at
strengthening links with Oxford by
encouraging Iberian Studies at St
Antony’s.
The symposium constituted a
very special event as some of the
most distinguished experts on
contemporary Spain came to St
Antony´s to discuss the topic. In the
first session chaired by Sir Raymond
Carr, the evolution of the external
image of Spain was analysed. The
very popular topic of the Spanish
Civil War was chaired by Tom
Buchanan and included some of the
major authorities who have written
about it, such as Antony Beevor.
Former St Antony´s Fellow Charles
Powell discussed the achievements
of the Spanish transition to
democracy with the sociologist
Emilio Lamo de Espinosa. Other
sessions were devoted to discuss
regional nationalism, the economy
and modernisation and the country´s
role in Europe and the world. The
symposium´s proceedings will be
published by Palgrave.
The most relaxing and memorable
moment in this intensive two-day
programme was the dinner offered
in Sir Raymond Carr´s honour. It
was hosted by the College Warden
Margaret MacMillan and attended
by all the symposium´s participants
as well as the Spanish Ambassador
in London Mr Carles Casajuana,
Santander Bank´s representative Mr
Luis Juste and Oxford academics
who work on Spanish history and
literature, such as Sir John Elliott and
Professor Edwin Williamson. They
all enjoyed this very emotive event
and were particularly pleased to see
that having just turned ninety-one Sir
Raymond is in very good shape and
retains his characteristic lucidity and
sense of humour intact. Sir Raymond,
who was in very high spirits, was
deeply moved by this homage.
Dr Julio Crespo MacLennan
Santander Visiting Fellow
in Iberian Studies