Alan Granadino is a Ramón y Cajal Fellow at the Department of Modern and Contemporary History, at the Complutense University of Madrid. During the spring 2026, he is spending four months as a visiting researcher at CENS. In our interview, Alan discusses his current research and long-term interest in the transnational history of European social democracy and narratives of the North-South dichotomy.
What are your main research interests? Is there something in particular that you are currently interested in doing research on?
Overall, my research focuses on the transnational history of European social democracy from the 1970s to the 1990s. At present, I am especially interested in two related themes. First, I examine how southern European socialist parties, particularly the Spanish Socialists, engaged in complex ways with the ascendancy of neoliberal paradigms during the 1980s and 1990s. Second, I analyse the international policies envisioned and pursued by European social democratic parties, focusing on their role in international disarmament initiatives through the United Nations and the Socialist International in the 1980s. Right now, I am particularly interested in initiatives led by Finnish social democrats, such as the Socialist International Disarmament Advisory Council (SIDAC), chaired by the Finnish politician Kalevi Sorsa.
I consider CENS to be one of the key points of reference for the interdisciplinary study of the Nordic region
What has brought you to CENS as a visiting researcher?
I consider CENS to be one of the key points of reference for the interdisciplinary study of the Nordic region. Since I seek to investigate the transnational history of SIDAC and other related initiatives, I believe that being based at CENS is highly beneficial both for this project and for my medium-term academic development.
Moreover, I have maintained a working relationship with Professor Peter Stadius since 2017. Together, we have established a research network
How did you become interested in the Nordics?
My interest in the Nordic countries comes from several directions. First, since I have long been interested in the history of social democracy, the Nordic region has always stood out as a key reference point, where social democratic systems arguably reached their historical peak, especially in Sweden.
Moreover, I have been personally linked to Finland for almost twenty years, and I have lived here intermittently for about a decade. This long-term connection has led me to develop an affection for the country and a desire to understand its society and contemporary history more thoroughly.
One of my main aims, therefore, has been, and continues to be, to contribute to a critical interrogation of this European narrative structured around a rigid North-South dichotomy, which resurfaced the last decade...
What has sparked your interest in examining political narratives in Northern and Southern Europe from a comparative perspective?
My engagement with Nordic contemporary history began in the aftermath of the Eurocrisis, which hit Southern Europe particularly hard. The Nordic countries managed the crisis more successfully, and an interesting narrative, rooted in older traditions, of Northern exceptionalism re-emerged. A revived dichotomy between a prosperous and progressive Northern Europe and a backward and poorer Southern Europe became increasingly visible in political discourse, the media, and even academic debates. In many ways, it challenged the more integrative narrative of European unity that had largely dominated until roughly the 2010s.
At that point, I began to think that it would be important not only to compare these regions, but also to connect them through historical research. In this context, my encounter with Professor Peter Stadius was particularly influential, especially through his work on the North-South European divide.
One of my main aims, therefore, has been, and continues to be, to contribute to a critical interrogation of this European narrative structured around a rigid North-South dichotomy, which resurfaced the last decade. In my view, it not only has the potential to complicate intra-European solidarity and cooperation, but also rests on historically deterministic and empirically problematic assumptions. I seek to critically engage with it by highlighting examples of ideological and transnational entanglements between Northern and Southern Europe. In doing so, my research aims to provide evidence of the complexity of European history and to strengthen connections between Southern and Northern European scholarship, ultimately contributing to a more fruitful dialogue between them.
What are you looking forward to during your visit at CENS?
During my four-month visit at CENS, I will conduct research at the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Finnish Labour Archive. In addition, I look forward to updating my knowledge of the latest developments in Nordic historiography. I also aim to strengthen and further develop our NorSur network, and to explore new opportunities for collaboration and future joint projects. Finally, I am very much looking forward to enjoying the beauty of the Finnish winter and to getting to know the new colleagues based at CENS.
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