11th International Conference on the Links between Spain and North America

The year 2026 marks the 250 anniversary since the United States of America declared its independence on July 4th, 1776, marking the beginning of a new era in world history and the emergence of a nation that has exerted a decisive influence in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Often forgotten or minimized, the Spanish Crown’s contribution to the process of American independence is now receiving growing recognition on both sides of the Atlantic.

The campaigns of the then-Governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, in the south; the strategic support of the Spanish fleet—in collaboration with the French—to blockade the British Royal Navy; the opening of fronts in the Mediterranean and Gibraltar to disperse British forces; and the defense of St. Louis by Fernando de Leyva to prevent British control of the Mississippi River are key examples of Spanish involvement in the birth of the North American nation. These and other episodes deserve greater academic and public attention, especially in the current context of bilateral relations between Spain and the United States, and constitute an opportunity to bring forth Spain's contribution to the birth of the new American nation.
Within this framework, the 11th International Conference on the Links between Spain and North America will address transatlantic influences and connections from a multidisciplinary perspective—political, social, economic, and cultural—both in their historical dimensions and in their contemporary manifestations. Special attention will be paid to historical connections, with a central focus on the American War of Independence, leading up to the shared challenges facing the international community today. An Atlantic focus will be the guiding thread of the sessions, with special emphasis on the evolution of the relationship between Spain and North America.

The Instituto Franklin de la Universidad de Alcalá, the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies of the City College of New York, and the Instituto Cervantes of New York come together for the eleventh consecutive year in the organization of this conference through this call for proposals in different disciplines and areas of study with a special emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to the links between Spain and North America.
 

Topics:
1.    Historical Relations between Spain and North America
2.    Cultural and Educational Exchanges
3.    Marca España: Business Connections and Contacts between Spain and North America
4.    Immigration and Migration Movements
5.    Social Movements on Both Sides of the Atlantic
6.    Transatlantic Relations and International Geopolitics
7.    Artistic Expressions Across the Atlantic