Collective Memory and the 11M Bombing in Madrid, Spain
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COLLECTIVE MEMORY AND THE 11M BOMBING IN MADRID, SPAIN A thesis submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for AS the Degree 3 < * 2o\(, Master of Arts In Anthropology by Emma Christina Fuentes San Francisco, California May 2016 Copyright by Emma Christina Fuentes 2016 >1 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read Collective Memory and the 11-M Bombing in Madrid, Spain by Emma Christina Fuentes, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Arts in Anthropology at San Francisco State University. 'James Quesada, Ph.D Professor of Anthropology Lucia Volk, Ph.D Professor of International Relations COLLECTIVE MEMORY AND THE 11-M BOMBING IN MADRID, SPAIN Emma Christina Fuentes San Francisco, California 2016 This thesis examines the March 11, 2004 (“11-M”) train bombings in Madrid, Spain and the massive public protests and national elections that followed as a case study on how collective memory of a violent past shaped public responses to terrorism. I argue that in Spain, remembered experiences of the Civil War, the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, and violence inflicted by the terrorist group ETA, were deeply influential in determining behavior and reactions after the 11-M bombing and I examine some of the ways in which memories were communicated and shared publicly. I also examine lasting effects of the bombing: the construction of two memorials to the victims, as well as medical and psychological outcomes among citizens of Madrid. My research is based on academic literature, first hand observations, and interviews conducted with Spanish citizens. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the friends who were there with me during my time in Madrid, and made it an indelibly wonderful experience: Grant, Tomas, Doyle, Alex, Jhon and Laura. I would like to express my deep appreciation to all of my Spanish friends, both in California and in Spain, who welcomed me and shared their culture, knowledge, and perspective with me over the years. In particular, I want to thank: Ana Belen, Soledad, David, Francisco, Daniel, Sonia, and Ariadna, who provided especially helpful insights and interviews for this thesis. Heartfelt gratitude to my two advisors: James Quesada and Lucia Volk for their patience, guidance, and invaluable feedback through this process. I was very fortunate to learn from two people whose work I admire greatly. Thank you to all of the professors and staff of the Anthropology department. All my love to my family, for a lifetime of support: Laura, Leo, Megan (thanks for reading), Paul and Marlene, and to my wonderful friends that have cheered me along: Camille, Justin, D. Bruce and Evan. I couldn’t have done it without my husband, Anton Gronholm... .jag alskar dig. .if we had stayed in our world / between the table and the desk / between the town and the suburb... / If we had lived in our city / sixty years might not prove / the power this week / the overthrown past.. — Muriel Rukeyser v TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures......................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices....................................................................................................................ix Introduction................................................................................................................................ 1 What is 11-M and Why Study it?............................................................................... 1 Methods and Literature Review.................................................................................. 7 Chapter One: 11-M................................................................................................................... 14 March 11 - 14, 2004: Bombing, Protests, and Elections........................................14 Chapter Two: Collective Memories of the Violent Past......................................................27 The Civil War and Franco’s Dictatorship.................................................................27 The Pact of Silence and the Memory Movement.....................................................35 Mass Graves and Exhumations.................................................................................. 39 ETA................................................................................................................................44 El GAL.......................................................................................................................... 45 Peace Movements.........................................................................................................48 Chapter Three: Cultural Representations of Violence......................................................... 55 Images and Meaning....................................................................................................55 Guernica........................................................................................................................ 60 Mickey Mouse.............................................................................................................. 67 Chapter Four: Memorials and Monuments............................................................................73 Impromptu Memorials................................................................................................. 73 El Bosque de Recuerdo - The Forest of Remembrance..........................................76 El Monumento a las Victimas del 11-M - Monument to the Victims of 11-M...78 Chapter Five: Medical and Psychological Outcomes........................................................... 89 Community Health, Social Healing, and Resilience............................................... 96 Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 100 Works Cited.............................................................................................................................. 105 Appendices............................................................................................................................... 114 LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 1. Cartoon: Aznar...........................................................................................................19 2. Demonstrations at Atocha,......................................................................................20 3. Miguel Angel Blanco.................................................................................................52 4. White and Black Handprints.....................................................................................53 5. White Handprint with Train......................................................................................53 6. Cartoon: Father and Son Looking at Guernica.......................................................65 7. Poster: Guernica & Madird....................................................................................... 66 8. Graffiti: Aznar / Mickey Mouse................................................................................71 9. Memorials at Atocha Station..................................................................................... 74 10. El Bosque del los Ausentes........................................................................................76 11. Street View of Atocha Memorial..............................................................................79 12. Interior View of Atocha Memorial............................................................................82 13. Presence of Acute Stress Symptoms in General Population of Madrid...............95 14. Cartoon: 10 Anos Despues........................................................................................103 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page A. Glossary of terms and abbreviations....................................................................... 114 B. List of Spanish Prime Ministers...............................................................................116 C. Map of Spain............................................................................................................. 117 D. Map of bombing sites............................................................................................... 118 E. Number of protestors, listed by city....................................................................... 119 F. Sample interview questions......................................................................................122 G. Oral interview data spreadsheet.............................................................................. 123 H. IRB approval document...........................................................................................125 ix 1 INTRODUCTION What is 11-M and why study it? On the morning of March 11, 2004, bombs exploded in four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and wounding approximately 1,800. At the time of the bombing, I was living just a few blocks away from Atocha train station, close enough to hear and feel the explosions. The bombing attack, which became known as "11-M" in reference to the date, was followed the next day (March 12) by massive protests in cities across Spain. There was widespread confusion about who was responsible for the attacks; new evidence in the case was being discovered