The Best of All Possible Islands: Seville's Universal Exposition, the New Spain, and the New Europe (Suny Series in National Identities)

The 1992 world’s fair in Seville serves as a vantage point from which to examine Spain’s developing democracy and Europe’s emerging unification, according to Richard Maddox in The Best of All Possible Islands. Visited by over fourteen million people, the Seville Expo drew the participation of more than one hundred countries and dozens of corporations. As part of Spain’s "miraculous year" in which Barcelona hosted the summer Olympics and Madrid was designated the Cultural Capital of Europe, the Expo advanced a remarkably optimistic, cosmopolitan, and liberal vision of the past, present, and future of the "new Spain" and the "new Europe." Yet no aspect of this vision went unchallenged, and the Expo was at the center of fierce political rivalries and dramatic manifestations of popular discontent. In an engaging and accessible narrative, Richard Maddox demonstrates how visitors and local residents understood the significance of the event in ways that largely escaped the knowledge and control of the Expo’s organizers. Understanding how and why this occurred casts critical light on the transformation of Spain since the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1976 and illuminates some of the key cultural and political dilemmas that processes of European and global integration pose for citizens of democratic societies. The 1992 World's Fair In Seville Serves As A Vantage Point From Which To Examine Spain's Developing Democracy And Europe's Emerging Unification, According To Richard Maddox In The Best Of All Possible Islands. Richard Maddox Demonstrates How Visitors And Local Residents Understood The Significance Of The Event In Ways That Largely Escaped The Knowledge And Control Of The Expo's Organizers. Understanding How And Why This Occurred Casts Critical Light On The Transformation Of Spain Since The End Of The Franco Dictatorship In 1976 And Illuminates Some Of The Key Cultural And Political Dilemmas That Processes Of European And Global Integration Pose For Citizens Of Democratic Societies.--jacket. 1. The Best Of All Possible Islands And The Miraculous Year -- 2. Possible Expos : Academic Meanderings From Tradition To Modernity And Beyond -- 3. A Pocket History Of The Liberalization Of Modern Spain, With Observations About Its Relevance For An Understanding Of Expo '92 -- 4. Relocating The Subject : Macroethnography And Cosmopolitan Liberalism -- 5. Royal Patronage Of A Noble Tradition : Madrid, Santo Domingo, Washington, And Paris, 1976-1982 -- 6. Seville, The Socialist Party, And The Commissioner General, 1982-1987 -- 7. The Voyages And Visits Of The Commissioner General -- 8. The Island World Takes Form -- 9. The Two-headed Monster -- 10. The Monster And Seville -- 11. Here Comes Everybody. Richard Maddox. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 337-356) And Index.