Forgotten borders: how barrancos reveals the tensions between human rights, local traditions, and democratic inclusion in the Portuguese Spanish borderland

Abstract

This thesis investigates how the historical and contemporary challenges in border regions, specifically Barrancos, reveal tensions between human rights, local traditions, and the promises of democratic inclusion in the Portuguese Spanish borderland. Some scholarships address geopolitical or economic aspects of borderlands. Still, this study, by focusing on this Portuguese village, examines how cultural hybridity, the particularism of a minority language, and legal exceptionalism shape how border communities navigate state-imposed regulations while preserving their distinct local identities. The controversy over the touros de morte tradition is central to this research, since it disputes national debates about animals’ rights, regional autonomy, and national legal uniformity. Through a historical contextualization, ethnographic fieldwork, policy analysis, and a review of media discourse, this dissertation examines how this unique border context serves as a contested space of negotiation, where the interaction between cultural heritage, legal frameworks, and ethical paradoxes unfolds. The findings show that Barrancos exemplifies how peripheral communities can serve as arenas for identity formation, negotiation, and resistance, challenging legal and cultural hegemonization. The case lifts broader discussions on legal pluralism, minority cultural and linguistic rights, and the place of animal ethics within democratic societies. Keywords: Borderlands, Bullfighting, Legal Pluralism, Cultural Heritage, Democratic Inclusion