{"id":3575,"date":"2025-10-02T12:36:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T10:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ull.es\/portal\/noticias\/2025\/10\/02\/la-historia-que-conecta-generaciones\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T09:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:39:43","slug":"la-historia-que-conecta-generaciones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ull.es\/portal\/noticias\/en\/2025\/10\/02\/la-historia-que-conecta-generaciones\/","title":{"rendered":"The story that connects generations"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the classrooms of the University of La Laguna to international seminars, <\/span>Angel Damaso Luis Leon<\/a> He transforms history into a living tool. A passionate researcher and teacher, he connects the Canary Islands with Latin America, revealing how the past explains the present and training new generations capable of understanding the world with rigor and sensitivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

We review his academic career, his contributions to knowledge about the Canary Islands and Latin America, his teaching experience at various educational levels, and his international standing. From his reflections on Canarian emigration to his analysis of the political reality in Venezuela, \u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso invites us to discover history as a tool for understanding society, connecting generations, and fostering critical thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a professor at <\/span>Department of Geography and History <\/a>from the University of La Laguna and tutor in the <\/span>National University of Distance Education (UNED)<\/a>. With a doctorate in History from the academic institution and postgraduate studies at several Spanish universities, he has focused his career on the recent political history of the Canary Islands and Latin America, and on Canarian emigration to the Americas. His passion for History stemmed from a curiosity about the social sciences: \u201cIn the end, History allowed me to understand in a comprehensive way how society works, and I wasn't wrong,\u201d he recalls.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Throughout his career, he has published over 40 works, including books, chapters, and articles in specialized journals. Among his most recent works are <\/span>Revolutionary Echoes in the Caribbean: Half a Century of Cuban Influence in Contemporary Venezuela (1958-2013)<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>The National Action Movement: an extreme right-wing party in the early days of democracy in Venezuela (1960-1974)<\/span><\/i> and The King of the Eighth Island: The Canary Islands before Ch\u00e1vez and the Bolivarian Revolution (2021), as well as the coordination of <\/span>Insularism in the Canary Islands: history and analysis of a political phenomenon of democracy in the Canary Islands (1977-2020)<\/span><\/i> (2021).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond his academic work, he maintains a close and human perspective: he links his research with the culture, memory and identity of the Canary Islands, and considers that studying history is also a way to connect generations and territories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of learning is subconscious. These studies gave me a solid foundation to later dedicate myself to research and teaching,\u201d he explains. Teaching has always been a central pillar in this researcher's career, and his experience spans different educational levels and teaching modalities. \u201cThey are two completely different worlds,\u201d he explains when comparing secondary school teaching with university teaching. While in secondary school the approach to students is more personal and close, with a greater degree of qualitative depth in the daily interaction, at university the focus is more on the transmission of specialized knowledge and content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso's experience in secondary education allowed him to develop key skills in student interaction and emotional intelligence, competencies he also applies to university teaching. As a tutor at UNED, he gained an enriching perspective on the education of adult students with diverse backgrounds and needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shared identity: The Canary Islands and Latin America<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher emphasizes that \u201cthe role of the Canary Islands with respect to Latin America is one of necessary interconnection. We are heirs to a migratory, cultural and human tradition that for five centuries was not only built on a one-way discourse, but also on a return one.\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For \u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso, our identity has been largely forged thanks to the elements that many Canarians brought from America and the connections they established there. \u201cThat influence is present today in areas as diverse as gastronomy, everyday expressions, and musical tastes.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>He adds that \u201cLatin America has historically contributed\u2014and continues to contribute\u2014to the cultural and identity formation of the Canary Islands. And this constant human and cultural connection is also reflected in migration.\u201d Indeed, the Canary Islands have become a welcoming place for communities that recognize in the islands \u201cnot only an attractive geographical space with economic opportunities, but also a symbolic reference point imbued with value.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, he emphasizes, Colombian, Bolivian, and Argentinian communities coexist in the Canary Islands, and, most notably, those from Cuba and Venezuela, with whom we maintain a particularly close historical relationship. With Cuba, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and with Venezuela to the present day, a human and cultural bridge has been forged that is very difficult to break. \u201cGiven the complex political and economic situation in Venezuela, it is natural that both the descendants of those Canarian emigrants and other people with ties to the islands choose the Canary Islands as a place to build their lives.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Venezuelan crisis and insularity<\/b><\/p>\n

Within this framework, one of his main interests is Canarian emigration to Latin America, a phenomenon present for five centuries that still shapes the culture and identity of the archipelago. His work has focused particularly on Venezuela, attempting to fill a gap in research: \u201cWe have a debt to Canarian society. The best way to repay it is to study what constitutes the social, cultural, economic, and political reality of the Canary Islands today through its dialogue with Latin America,\u201d he points out.<\/span><\/p>\n

The researcher describes the political crisis in Venezuela as \u201ca long-term phenomenon, dating back more than 25 years, marked by the rise to power of Chavismo, the deinstitutionalization of the State and profound changes in the economy.\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luis Le\u00f3n points out that the situation has worsened with \u201can authoritarian regime that restricts freedoms, generates international isolation, and provokes a mass exodus of citizens\u2014some 8 million people leaving a country of approximately 30 million.\u201d According to the researcher, the economy has suffered severe deterioration, partially mitigated in recent years by relations with Iran, Turkey, China, and Russia, but \u201cthe crisis persists with no signs of resolution in the short term.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Regarding the relationship with the United States, \u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso states that it \u201cis characterized by historical and personal tensions between the leadership of both countries, with constant rhetorical confrontation and internal political motivations.\u201d He explains that Venezuela seeks \u201cto consolidate internal support against a traditional enemy,\u201d while the United States considers \u201celectoral and geostrategic aspects, including the influence of the diaspora and Venezuela\u2019s position in the Caribbean.\u201d He also highlights that the differences are reflected \u201con the economic front, with US companies affected by Venezuelan policies, and in the increase in criminal activity due to the weakening of state control.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another of his most outstanding contributions is the coordination of the work <\/span>Insularism in the Canary Islands: history and analysis of a political phenomenon of democracy in the Canary Islands (1977-2020)<\/span><\/i><\/a>. In this collaborative work, the researcher proposes a theorization of insularity as a political expression of Canarian reality, influenced by the history of island political mentalities and the organization of political parties in the archipelago. The publication analyzes the territorial drive that has historically existed in the outlying islands and how this has influenced the construction of autonomy and self-government.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstanding insularity is not just about the conflict between Tenerife and Gran Canaria; it involves recognizing historical and political processes that unfolded across all the islands, from Fuerteventura to La Palma, where progressive insularist impulses were already evident at the beginning of the 20th century,\u201d he explains. The book also offers a comprehensive analysis of the Canarian system of self-government and how insular negotiations and discourses have influenced its development over the last few decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

The publication has been well received in academic and social circles, both for its contribution of perspectives from each island and for its proposal of a broader theoretical framework for the phenomenon. Although some perspectives differ regarding the theoretical interpretation, the work represents a significant advance in the study of insularity and territorial politics in the Canary Islands.<\/span><\/p>\n

His research work is not limited to the classrooms of the University of La Laguna. \u201cThere are two areas that I consider key: one, communication between specialists, which allows us to create networks and for knowledge to transcend the university; and the other, dissemination to society, to give back to the community part of what we owe ourselves as researchers,\u201d explains D\u00e1maso.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Specializing in Venezuela and the Caribbean, he has dedicated more than a decade to studying the region's political and social processes, from the collapse of the party system to the construction of new regimes, always with a perspective that links contemporary history with political science. This research has generated interest not only among academics but also in national and international media, where his analyses provide context and depth to current events in Latin America.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new right and the vision of Cuba<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher states that \u201cthe role of the new Latin American right cannot be separated from the role of the new far right internationally. It is a completely linked phenomenon.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The professor explains that these actors, until recently marginal, \u201chave gained considerable influence\u201d and in countries like Brazil and Argentina have even come to power. He also points out that \u201cmost of these right-wing movements are extremely populist and closely tied to the specific figure who emerges in each country, although they exhibit common patterns and very significant differences.\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among these patterns, he highlights \u201ca tendency toward authoritarianism, criticism of intermediaries and institutions, and a deep-seated hatred of certain sectors of civil society, especially political opponents.\u201d According to the researcher, these groups \u201cpromote a disruptive and redemptive discourse that seeks the refounding of national entities from the perspective of a specific segment of the population, leaving little room for a pluralistic and diverse discourse.\u201d All of this, he concludes, develops \u201cfrom a rather conservative or ultraconservative view of society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding Cuba, \u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso states that \u201cthe future of this country shows no signs of changing\u201d and that, although it faces recent impoverishment linked to the collapse of the Venezuelan economy and limited international intervention, \u201cthis does not mean that a regime change is imminent.\u201d He points out that the Cuban regime is quite institutionalized, has undergone several transitions, and has survived the deaths of the first generation of leaders, so \u201cthe current institutionalized generation is quite well established.\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, he points out that the opposition in the Caribbean country is managed coercively, \u201cthrough intelligence services, selective expulsion or imprisonment, and rhetoric that promotes the resistance of the Cuban people.\u201d In his opinion, these dynamics demonstrate that \u201cthe regime controls a significant part of the country\u2019s daily life\u201d and that a change of government is unlikely in the short or medium term.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among his future projects, the historian will delve into the study of far-right groups in contemporary Venezuela and migration from the islands to Latin America. For young researchers in the humanities, \u00c1ngel D\u00e1maso emphasizes the importance of addressing social challenges rigorously, explaining the complexity of the world clearly, and conveying a passion for knowledge. \u201cIt is a beautiful and rewarding profession, where every class, every debate, and every research project is an opportunity to learn and grow alongside the students,\u201d he concludes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In her own words, the work of a historian doesn't end with academic publication: "Every class, every debate, and every research project is an opportunity to learn and grow alongside the students." Her approach combines rigor, passion, and a personal touch, linking the political and social history of the Canary Islands and Latin America with the training of new generations of researchers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the teacher, history is a tool to connect generations, understand complex contexts and foster critical thinking, values that he considers essential for young people who wish to dedicate themselves to teaching and research in the humanities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communications Office<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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