Cultural Identity vs. Political Identification in Menorca

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 in Social sciences

Ignacio Terrades on Cultural Identity and Politics

Ignacio Terrades, a university professor, explores the contradictions between cultural identity and political identification in his book. He examines identification politics as the psychology of the masses opposed to cultural identity, and also as an attempt at politicizing cultural identity through elements like language, history, and differences with others.

Characteristics of Identification Politics

  • Explicit: Open and clear, employing political propaganda.
  • Static: Presents a fixed view of life.
  • Limiting: Attempts to create barriers to social and cultural evolution.
  • Closely related to history and common experiences (e.g., Menorca).

Menorcan History: A Timeline

  • Prehistoric: Talayots, navetas, tables, caves.
  • Romans (from 123 BC): Roads, coins.
  • Muslim: Santa Clara, place names (bini-).
  • Catalan-Aragonese domination: San Antonio celebration.
  • Turkish assault in 1558 AD (Barbarossa): July 9th (deaths, rapes, Santa Clara Convent, legend of Cova d’en Xoroi).
  • 18th-century dominations.

Key Dates and Events

  • January 17th: Spanish conquest.
  • March 25th: Treaty of Amiens (1802) concerning Gibraltar and Menorca.
  • April 1st: A day of deception.
  • July 9th: Repression of 1558, the year of disgrace.
  • Spanish kingdoms: (1782-1798).
  • Literary movement: Period of Minorcan mayonnaise, society, culture, language.
  • 1830: France took over Algeria, leading to French ancestry in Menorca.

Present Political Relevance in Menorca

  • Menorca Island Council
  • CA of the Balearic Islands
  • Government of Spain
  • European Union

The variety of situations arises from the intentions of conquerors and the results of co-existence:

  1. The desire of newcomers to impose their ways versus the desire to preserve what one owns.
  2. A respectful community becomes more open and friendly, leading to cultural exchange over time.

Therefore, developing one’s identity involves accepting and empowering elements while rejecting aspects of A and B.

Cultural Identity Defined

Cultural identity is a set of elements (values, traditions, beliefs) that give a group a shared feeling of belonging. For example, cultural identity and nationalism.

Fredrik Barth’s “Ethnic Groups and Boundaries” discusses ethnic groups, outlining four requirements:

  • Largely biologically self-perpetuating.
  • Integrates fundamental cultural values.
  • Members identify themselves and are identified by others as a distinct category.

This implies a group is relatively pure, with minimal interference from other ethnic groups.

Characteristics of Cultural Identity

  • Implied: Found in minds and feelings.
  • Dynamic: Changes with life experiences.
  • Creative: Involves continuous problem-solving.

Factors in Creating Identity

  • Memory of lived experiences.
  • Emotional repercussions.
  • Feelings.
  • Rootedness.

The Conflict

Conflict.