España desde el exterior. Análisis comparativo de la presencia de España y la españolidad en Die Welt, The New York Times y Kommersant (2012 – 2014)

Identifier:  TDX:2734

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2734

Authors:  Soriano Procas, Miriam

Abstract:
Spain is a country that conjures up strong vivid stereotypes. Recent studies about Spain's image abroad still suggest that the country is perceived as the land of flamenco, siesta, fiery brunettes, sun and bullfighting. These age-old clichés that emerged in the 18th century still persist nowadays, sometimes perpetuated internally, consciously or otherwise, by the authorities.There are many actors involved in the perpetuation of these stereotypes and perceptions with which Spain has traditionally been characterized. Among them stands out mass media on which most people are dependent for information about international affairs. Media has a strong influence in the creation of public opinion and it is one of the main factors shaping perceptions of other nations and countries’ projected image. Having considered the great significance of the media in this matter, it is remarkable that to the date, there has been relatively little research into the countries’ media reputation. The present study takes a step to fill this gap analyzing the way in which Spain is depicted in a sample of American, German and Russian mainstream media. Combining both qualitative and quantitative methods this research compares the presence of Spain in The New York Times, Kommersant and Die Welt during the period between 2012 and 2014. Results show that there seems to be evidence to indicate that Spain’s image is predominantly negative when referring to its hard power but overwhelming positive in those aspects related to its soft power