Julián Casanova, historian: ‘Goebbels needed to occupy countries to introduce propaganda. Elon Musk needs three minutes’

Julián Casanova, a historian from the University of Zaragoza, is retiring and reflecting on the changes that have taken place in the world since the Spanish Civil War. He is concerned about the transition from a world that relied heavily on paper to one that is increasingly digital. Casanova has dedicated his career to studying the 20th century and its various forms of violence, covering topics such as the Russian Revolution, anarchism, and the Spanish Civil War, as well as the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Casanova believes that the most significant change of the 21st century is the breakdown of the values and consensus that were established in the latter half of the 20th century. He notes that there was a time when modernization, fiscal policies, democracy, and liberalism were seen as the only viable options for society. However, this consensus has eroded, and the state now maintains a monopoly on violence, while there is little room for paramilitarism, guerrilla warfare, or terrorism.

The professor acknowledges that the world order is breaking down, especially since the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump. While democracy can potentially be rebuilt, there is no longer a significant social counterproject, such as the Russian Revolution, to challenge the current order. Casanova also expresses concern about the potential rise of fascism, although he believes that powerful counterweights, such as the judicial system and military, could prevent it from gaining a strong foothold.

He highlights the role of militarism and the subordination of the military to civilian authority as key factors that have historically led to major breakdowns, such as wars and ethnic cleansing.