Introduction

The Alfons Cucó Chair was founded in 2003 as agreed by the Governing Council of the Universitat de València and is linked to the Contemporary History area of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History, where the Valencian historian and politician of the second half of the 20^th century developed his professional career.

The Alfons Cucó Chair of European Political Reflection has the objective of paying tribute and keeping alive the memory of the prestigious full professor of the UV, delve into his lines of research (republicanism, Valencianism and nationalism) and promote the debate between experts. It also aims to serve as a permanent forum for political and intellectual debate, connecting what used to be his main areas of interest as a political leader: the Valencian Country, Spain and Europe.

Alfons Cucó Giner’s Biography:

He was born in Valencia in July 1941, graduated in History from the Universitat de València in 1964 and obtained his doctorate in 1970. As a historian, he explored some of the most important lines of research of the Valencian Country in the 20^th century: republicanism, Valencianism, national identity and the Spanish transition to democracy (known in Spanish as la Transición).

His publications include El valencianisme polític (1971), which had a great influence and was reedited in 1999, Aspectes de la política valenciana en el segle XIX (1966), Republicans i camperols revoltats (1975), Sobre la ideologia blasquista: un assaig d’aproximació (1979), Estudis d´història contemporània del País Valencià (1979), Roig i blau: la transició democràtica valenciana (2002), and El despertar de las naciones: la ruptura de la Unión Soviética y la cuestión nacional (1999).

He was professor of the Department of Contemporary History of the Universitat de València, where he took the Chair in 1998.

During his political career, he ran in the general elections under the acronym of the Partit Socialista del País Valencià (PSPV: Socialist Party of the Valencian Country), although he did not win any seats. Subsequently, he joined the PSPV-PSOE, following the merger in 1978 between the former PSPV and the Valencian federations of PSOE and the Socialist Popular Party. During his time as a senator, he was secretary of the Ibero-American Affairs Committee and Vice-Principal of Foreign Affairs and of the Joint Congress-Senate for European Communities Committee. Between 1983 and 1989 he worked as a President of the Spanish Committee for Helping Refugees and Vice-President of the Spanish Delegation in the Council of Europe and in front of the Western European Union. After being a senator of PSOE from 1979 to 1996, Cucó left the party. He was already considered as a referent because of his intellectual projection and his commitment to Valencianism. He was a member of Valencians pel Canvi.

History

As part of the activities planned by the Universitat d'Estiu de Gandia (UEG) throughout the year, the Universitat de València presented the Alfons Cucó Chair of European Political Reflection on 11 April 2003.

The presentation ceremony was led by the UV’s Principal Francisco Tomàs, Mayor of Gandia Pepa Frau, and Professor Joan Francesc Mira. This was followed by a debate on Valencianism, the title of Cucó's first book, with the participation of the journalist Adolf Beltran, Professor Joaquim Azagra, Professor and former Principal Ramón Lapiedra, and UEG’s Director Joan del Alcàzar.

The Principal took the opportunity to contextualise the presentation of the Chair in the context of the war in Iraq: ‘The gods have wanted it to be today, in the midst of a war that is devastating the cradle of humanity, when we meet to remember a man who was an example of dialogue and commitment to peace.’ He concluded by expressing his ‘sincere gratitude’ both to the Mayor and the City City Council of Gandia, as well as to Cucó's daughter and wife for their presence at the event.

On the other hand, the Mayor recalled the almost twelve years of ‘intense political work’ that she and Cucó shared in the Spanish Senate: ‘Being at his side, during three consecutive legislatures, is one of the experiences that has enriched me the most, politically and humanly speaking. I believe that many of us who work in politics, from a progressive point of view, owe a great deal to Alfonso and his idea of Europe.’ And she added that ‘if Alfonso were among us, he would join the voice of thousands and thousands of people who are continually speaking out against this absurd war.’

Since then, there have been several events and scientific meetings that have developed his work along the lines of research that Professor Cucó worked on during his career. And his memory remains in the room and classroom with his name in the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of the Universitat de València.

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