Leiden University Student Repository

González García, Carlos (2021)

Globalizing the Rif War? Spanish Officialdom´s Perceptions of Transnational Anti-Colonialism

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

The Rif War and the subsequent proclamation of the Rif Republic marked a watershed for anti-colonial movements during the interwar period. Traditional historiography tended to categorize the episode as an isolated tribal revolt. Nevertheless, recent studies shed light on the international significance the conflict had on the emergence of global anti-colonial solidarity. This thesis uses Orientalism to analyze how transnational anti-colonial solidarity associated with the Riffians was perceived by the Spanish intelligence and interpreted by colonial military officers. It argues that orientalist and essentialist assumptions caused colonial officials to misinterpret transnational anti-colonialism, exaggerating the Riffian rebellion's dimension and altering their sense-making of foreign and domestic politics.

Rif War

Orientalism

transnational anti-colonialism

Spanish intelligence

perceptions

Author

González García, Carlos

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Global Order in Historical Perspective

Supervisors

Scott-Smith, G.P.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en