Spain embraces modernity, confronts challenges
Date
7/22/2024 4:24:10 AM
(MENAFN) You might assume that city dwellers watched the recent Euros with indifference, but that would be a mistake. The disappointment was palpable when Gareth Southgate's team was defeated, and the collective sentiment around me was one of shared pain. Kudos to France for their victory.
This moment of distraction, however, allowed us to reflect on a larger trend. The Spanish national football team, now boasting five European championships, symbolizes the broader transformation of Spain in the twenty-first century. This transformation is evident not only in football but also in the rise of Spanish cuisine. In 2000, Spanish cuisine was popular, but it has since become a leading force on the global culinary stage, largely due to the influence of renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adrià.
Madrid, once stagnant and reminiscent of Vienna's historical inertia, has emerged as one of Europe's most vibrant cities, ranking alongside London and Paris as one of the most desirable non-coastal cities in the world. This remarkable shift can be attributed to a mix of tax incentives and a pronounced openness to modernity, both in architecture and cuisine. This modernity is especially visible in Spain's coastal regions. In 2019, The Economist highlighted the contrast between the dynamic modernity of urban Spain and the dilapidated cities of Italy.
Yet, the pursuit of hypermodernity comes with its own set of challenges. The investment boom of the past generation led to notable advancements, such as high-speed trains and striking architectural works by figures like Frank Gehry. However, it also brought significant issues, including high public debt. Despite Spain's growing allure on the global stage, the influx of tourism has sparked backlash, as evidenced by anti-tourist graffiti that reads phrases like "My house used to stand here." These sentiments reflect a tension between Spain's rapid development and the preservation of its cultural and historical fabric, echoing themes not found in the works of Spanish literary icon Miguel de Cervantes.
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