Description
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) brought with it the sudden entry of a large number of Muslim soldiers, alien elements, into a European society, large segments of which had never came into contact with Muslims before. Although a close Moroccan-Spanish daily encounter had already existed in Morocco, the one in Spain was a new and broader experience for both the Moroccan Muslims and the Spanish Christians. This encounter was multifaceted: it was warlike, religious and a sexual one. The positions of both parties ranged from indifference, to a hearty welcome of this intercultural meeting, to outright enmity that was often racist. More importantly, on the Spanish side, this encounter was ruled by the stereotypes about the 'Moor', both traditional and modern that reigned among the Spaniards.The presentation of Ali Al Tuma will deal with the role race and culture played in the position of the Moroccan soldiers in the Spanish army, as well as the role both played in creating separate spaces for the Moroccans. But he will also point out that the Moroccan soldiers were hardly passive agents in this intercultural meeting and that they played their part in determining their position within the new European environment they found themselves in. Topics will include the link between racial stereotypes and tactical employment; relations with Spanish civilians, the daily life of Moroccans outside the battlefield and the choices Moroccan soldiers made at the end of their military service.| Period | 7 Apr 2015 |
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