Digestible Governance - (Hispanic Issues) by Eugenia Afinoguénova & Lara Anderson & Rebecca Ingram

About the Book

A critical, interdisciplinary look at the intersections of gastronomy and politics in Spain

Book Synopsis

The term "gastrocracy" refers to the appropriation of discourses and practices related to the sourcing, preparation, distribution, and consumption of food for political purposes. The intersections of gastronomy and governance, dating in Spain to the last quarter of the nineteenth century, have become highly visible over the past decade, when political debates around nationalism in its different forms have taken the guise of discussions about regional and local cuisines. Concomitant with the rise of the "slow food" movement and following UNESCO's addition in 2011 of "Gastronomic Meal of the French" to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, public and private associations all around Spain have been established with the goal of achieving recognition by UNESCO for Spanish, Catalan, and other national cuisines. In 2016, Gastro Marca España--an association and a web portal--was launched to raise the profile of food in Spain's national brand.

Eliciting wide public participation, co-opted for political purposes, regarded as a factor of economic development on any scale, and integrated into every so-called banal nationalism, the production, distribution, and consumption of food are highly relevant for historical analysis. Seeking to encourage a broader discussion about Peninsular gastrocracies, this book brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars from different sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific who have spearheaded research on gastronomy and governance in Spain.

Review Quotes

"Digestible Governance masterfully explores the intricate relationship between food and politics in Spain, revealing how culinary traditions influence and are influenced by political landscapes. Rich in historical context and cultural analysis, the essays in this volume offer a profound understanding of Spain's sociopolitical fabric through its vibrant culinary heritage."
--Maria Paz Moreno, author of Madrid: A Culinary History

"Digestible Governance offers a veritable buffet of compelling analyses of food as a political tool in modern and contemporary Spain. This volume centers often-overlooked stories--be they about emerging halal practices or cava and corpinnat--that reveal the profound role food culture plays in molding Iberian identities."
--Leigh Mercer, author of Urbanism and Urbanity: The Spanish Bourgeois Novel and Contemporary Customs (1845-1925)

"This outstanding collection showcases the richness and possibilities of Spanish food studies, solidifying its field-shaping significance. Its authors demonstrate the critical importance of examining food through citizenship, governance, political action, and immigration--urgent issues in today's political economies of food both in Spain and beyond."
--Daniela Gutiérrez Flores, scholar of Hispanic food studies

About the Author

Eugenia Afinoguénova is a professor of Spanish at Marquette University.

Lara Anderson is a scholar of Spanish and Latin American studies, specializing in Spanish and Latin American food studies and cultural history.

Rebecca Ingram is a professor of Spanish at the University of San Diego.