61

‪While the “historical memory act” passed in 2007 in Spain allowed the descendants of Republican exiles to recover the Spanish nationality they had lost, this article analyses the meaning of the recovery of this nationality in France and in Latin America. It shows that, for descendants living in France who apply for it, obtaining Spanish nationality is a form of reparation for the violence suffered under Franco’s rule, while at the same time allowing them to reaffiliate with Spain, whereas those who do not apply for the nationality think of it in terms of national belonging of the nation-state. In contrast, in Latin America, pragmatic considerations prevail, with Spanish nationality being perceived as a capital asset that enables travelling. However, the logics prevailing in France and Latin America are not mutually exclusive. In France, some people perceive obtaining Spanish nationality as a heritage, while on the other side of the Atlantic, others wish to travel to Spain in the footsteps of their ancestors.‪