Fronteras hispánicas. Geografía e historia, diplomacia y administración

Written by a political scientist and administrator rather than a professional geographer or historian, this work examines down through the centuries the chronological evolution and topographical demarcation of Spain’s frontiers in Europe, America, and Africa. After an initial metaphysical chapter of dubious merit on the concept and types of ‘frontier’ in history, Cordero describes the various internal regional and provincial systems employed within Spain, and the successive administrative and post-independence boundary lines of Spanish America. The Latin American section, which extends to the present day, is relatively short, superficial, and of no great utility. The real heart of the book is its detailed review of the wars, diplomatic negotiations, and treaties that have created Spain’s contemporary frontiers with France, Portugal, Gibraltar, and Morocco. The Pyrenean and Lusitanian borders, certain anomalies like Andorra and Olivenza aside, are regarded as generally satisfactory. The historical treatment of Gibraltar, however, includes a vehement attack upon the British occupation, conducted in terms of arguments that are interestingly (but not inexplicably) reversed when the author undertakes to justify Spain’s position in Ceuta and the Western Sahara. No attempt is made to use the revealing World War II documents that chart the Franco government’s efforts in 1939-1942 to obtain sweeping territorial concessions from the Axis powers in the Gibraltar and African zones at the expense of Britain and France. But as a whole this is a valuable reference tool for Spanish border questions in most periods. There are numerous black-and-white sketch maps, a limited but helpful bibliography, and generally clear guidance through that complex but important subdivision of Spanish diplomatic history which relates to the formation of the national boundary lines.