Casa América presents the dialogue 50 Years, Spain and Portugal: Intergenerational dialogue for a democratic coexistence, organized together with the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory and the IEO, on Thursday 12 March at 5:30 p.m. in its Ambassadors’ room. Entry with registration here.
Fifty years after the beginning of democratic transitions in Spain and Portugal, it is essential to stop and reflect on what has happened. This is not just a history exercise; it is an opportunity to reaffirm the values that made freedom possible. This half-century has been a collective learning experience in which human rights were consolidated as pillars of development, coexistence and civic culture in both countries.
The new generations have inherited advances in rights and freedoms, but also uncertainties stemming from inequalities, failure to meet expectations (job insecurity, access to housing), misinformation, and the impact of AI or environmental crisis. That is why the meeting between generations is a tool and a necessity for thinking about the future, strengthening coexistence and encouraging citizen participation. Remembering in democracy means taking responsibility for preserving the values that underpin freedom and equality.
The purpose of this dialogue is not to pay homage to the past, but to spark a conversation between those who opened the way and those who must continue it. In this sense, the aim is to establish a starting point for strengthening democratic coexistence as a common good.
Mariano Jabonero, general secretary of the OEI, José Augusto Duarte, ambassador of Portugal in Spain, and a representative of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (to be confirmed) will introduce the event. The dialogue will then begin, with the participation of Juan Pablo Fusi Aizpurúa, Professor of Contemporary History at the Complutense University of Madrid; Maria de Lurdes Reis Rodrigues, former Minister of Education and Science of Portugal, and young people from Spain and Portugal (to be confirmed). Will moderate Irune Aguirrezabal, OEI.
