The Holocaust, the Second World War, and Spain Reflections on the Transmission of Memory in Contemporary Society

This book examines the transmission, transformation, and politicisation of Holocaust and Second World War memory through a comparative perspective that encompasses contemporary Europe and Israel, foregrounding the central experience of Spain. Moving beyond commemorative narratives, it approaches memory as a dynamic social and political process shaped by power relations, institutions, generational change, and emerging technologies. Across nine chapters in two parts, it shows how remembrance is selectively constructed, contested, and instrumentalised by states and social actors, examining the tension between universalising "Never Again" discourses and nationally embedded memory regimes. Chapters explore diverse national approaches to Holocaust memory. The Israeli, Spanish, and broader European cases offer a compelling illustration of memory’s dual capacity to shape internal cohesion and international relationships. They reveal how collective remembrance, when institutionalised and publicly acknowledged, can transform suffering into a foundation for political renewal and reconciliation. The book offers a comparative, interdisciplinary framework for understanding how historical trauma continues to shape identity, legitimacy, and international relations today. It will be of interest to researchers in the field of Holocaust Studies, Memory Studies, European History, International Relations and the Politics of History.