This line of research focuses primarily on the cultural, educational and scientific transfers between Spain and the United States during the twentieth century, along with the evolution of international relations between the two countries. Its areas of analysis attach singular attention to:

– The cultural dimension in the dual role that ranges from public diplomacy of States to the performance of private organizations with transnational vocation present in this area.

– The expansion of thematic and methodological perspectives that have been registered for the last few decades in the study of international relations from a more global and integrated optics.

Its field of work includes:

• The exchange and training of human capital programs between the two countries, aimed at leaders, university students and teachers, technicians, researchers, military and professionals from various fields. The information and cultural services designed to disseminate the respective schemes of values ​​and world views through various channels (documentary films, radio programs, publications, public access libraries, teaching of English and promoting American Studies, concerts, conferences and exhibitions).
• networks of different types (political, economic, social, cultural, etc.) that have been created to promote and intensify contacts Hispanic Americans.
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• The mechanisms of collaboration and complementarity established between the US government and private philanthropic foundations that participated in the development of cultural and informative programs such as the Ford Foundation or the American Field Service.
• The commercial channels and cultural enterprises that took ideas and consumer goods from US suppliers to Spain, with the eventual contribution to an “Americanization” and sociocultural transformation of the receiving society.
• The combination of actions, public and private, to move the American model (political, cultural, social and economic) to the Spanish society, adaptation or hybridization processes that they gave rise to, their role as agents of a harmonization of the Spanish society with “western” standards.
• Bilateral relations between the two countries both in regard to the respective foreign policies and their engagement with the international system of various eras.

Through this project, a unit of scientific cooperation was created between the CSIC and the Universidad de Alcalá. Unit associated to R + D + I on the United States and Spain. Culture and international relations, including the Instituto Franklin (UAH) and the Instituto de Historia (CCHS-CSIC). Founded in December 2012, effective for four years.