Anti-American sentiment in Spain

Anti-American sentiments are perceived to be deeply entrenched within Spanish society, with several surveys conducted concerning the topic tending to back up assertion, with Spain ranking among the highest countries in terms of levels of Anti-americanism in Europe.[1] According to a German Marshall Fund study, feelings towards the United States in Spain were among the least favorable in Europe, second only to Turkey.[2] With the sentiment far from being exclusively of left-leaning nature, until recently the United States have been seen under a very negative light by Conservative factions in Spain.[3]

1896 political cartoon depicting USA's intentions about Cuba.

The consideration of the 1898 Spanish-American War as point of origin of Anti-americanism in Spain has been a common place in historiography, yet that extent has been recently disputed,[4][5] as negative stereotypes about the US began to be forged already since the 1776 American declaration of independence.[6] The spread of prejudices and cliches against the United States, common in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, found a fertile ground in Spain.[7] 19th century Spanish anti-americanism—staunchly conservative—developed via a pan-hispanist discourse that framed the US as an enemy to Spanish interests and the Catholic faith.[8]

The 1898 war, perceived in the US as a "splendid little war", meant a national disaster to many in Spain,[9] although, despite the attempts from the most obstinate right-wing sectors that continued engaging into feeding anti-american sentiment, the immediate aftermath left a focus on self-criticism and a grave crisis in the "national psyche" rather than a prevalence of revanchist stances within the public opinion.[10]

According to Alessandro Seregni, the 20th century Spanish anti-american sentiment was built upon two different political cultures ("groups" or "families"), a right-wing one and a left wing one.[11]

During World War II right-wing anti-americanism, led by the Church, the Armed Forces and the Falange, was unabashed, with the latter's members becoming sponsors of the worldview underpinned by the "Hispanidad" in clash with the Monroe Doctrine.[12] Following the end of WWII right-wing antiamericanism became more defensive. Criticism and condemnation of of American imperialism was widespread in Spain in the 1960s and 1970s.[13] The US involvement in foreign nations in the 1970s (often endorsing anti-democratic regimes) further tarnished the US' reputation among left-wing sensibilities.[14]

For many authors the higher prevalence of anti-americanism in Spain over that of nearby nations has been due to the remembrance of 1898 and to the left-wing resentment of the American partnership with Franco.[13] Besides the former events, the 1953 Pact of Madrid (leading to the installment of US military bases in Spain), the US lack or enthusiasm for a democratic transition in the 1970s in Spain, the US endorsement of far-right dictatorships in Latin America during the Reagan administration, and the invasion of Iraq (including the killing of José Couso) have been also cited as events fueling anti-americanism.[15] Spain was in fact the European country with the highest levels of opposition to the Iraq war among the public opinion.[16]