The diplomatic relations between the GDR and Franco-Spain as „Cultural history of diplomacy“, 1973-1975
Furthermore, the sudden end of the diplomatic relations between Spain and the GDR just two years later seems to be in line with the international dynamic at this time: Widespread executions of opponents of the Franco regime were causing an european protest of 14 states withdrawing their ambassadors from Madrid, one of them from the GDR.
However, reflections of a “Cultural history of diplomacy” make clear that such an interpretation is not sufficient to understand the complexity of foreign policy, the subtle and highly nuanced art of diplomacy and the influence of their respective actors. With the ideological differences of both dictatorships (“fascism and communism”) and their classification into “East” and “West” in mind, the project will emphasize the symbolic level of this interstate relationship and examine the communication process of its actors. How was a fluent communication possible, even though the actors were facing different frames of reference and symbolic systems? Which forms of representation were chosen? Did the historical heritage of the Spanish civil war become important for the diplomatic relations?
The first objective is to refer to the diplomatic relations between the GDR and Spain as a “Cultural history of diplomacy”. Secondly, international relations in times of the Cold War shall further investigated as processes that are based on communication and a society as a whole.
Research Project of Laura Haloschan
On 11th of January 1973, Spain and the GDR established diplomatic relations without lenghty prior negotiations. Due to the international process of “détente” since the late 1960s and in light of the traditional approaches of political history, this interaction may not appear extraordinary.
Furthermore, the sudden end of the diplomatic relations between Spain and the GDR just two years later seems to be in line with the international dynamic at this time: Widespread executions of opponents of the Franco regime were causing an european protest of 14 states withdrawing their ambassadors from Madrid, one of them from the GDR.
However, reflections of a “Cultural history of diplomacy” make clear that such an interpretation is not sufficient to understand the complexity of foreign policy, the subtle and highly nuanced art of diplomacy and the influence of their respective actors. With the ideological differences of both dictatorships (“fascism and communism”) and their classification into “East” and “West” in mind, the project will emphasize the symbolic level of this interstate relationship and examine the communication process of its actors. How was a fluent communication possible, even though the actors were facing different frames of reference and symbolic systems? Which forms of representation were chosen? Did the historical heritage of the Spanish civil war become important for the diplomatic relations?
The first objective is to refer to the diplomatic relations between the GDR and Spain as a “Cultural history of diplomacy”. Secondly, international relations in times of the Cold War shall further investigated as processes that are based on communication and a society as a whole.