Spain, Eurovision, and the making of National Identity through the “Other”
Introduction: Why National Identity Matters When Spain enters Eurovision, it is not just joining a music contest. The event gives Spain a chance to show its identity to others. Watching Spain take part makes me realize that national identity is not fixed or natural. Instead, it grows over time through history, politics, culture, and by comparing itself to others. Many scholars believe that national identity is created by society, maintained through shared symbols, memories, and institutions, and made stronger by drawing a line between “us” and “them.” Spain shows this clearly. Its identity has been shaped by its past as an empire, years under dictatorship, regional differences, and the shift to democracy. Following Anna Triandafyllidou’s theory of the “Other ,”( 1998) I suggest that Spain’s n...