The animal imagery as a metaphor for political power: analysis of the symbol "eagle"

Résumé du document

The myriad of symbols which have characterized the History of politics renders the aim of studying this imagery ever more arduous. Hence, it appears relevant to focus on the place which has been allotted to animals by Men in order to represent their own standpoints or rulings. In fact, a large majority of regimes have intended to depict the same peculiarities as the animals that stood for them. Amongst the "political fauna", the eagle seems to have appeased the ego of numerous nations, as it is often associated with power, beauty and independence. However, is the eagle an accurate symbol of political power? How impelling has it been when related to a political philosophy? This essay will pore over Spain as a specific case study, in which the same animal has been depicted across History and has been useful to very contrasting regimes. Its purpose will be to draw a brief synthesis of the evolution of the myth surrounding the eagle, and then to analyze its symbolic impact during the reign of the Catholic Kings compared to the Francoist dictatorship from the focus of its contribution to both ideologies.

Extraits

[...] To start with, the symbol of the eagle has had a very acute use through History, and it is widespread all over the world, from the Philippines to Moldova, Mexico or Nigeria. However, its presence in Western civilisations seems to ensue from the Roman army. This image was later dug up by Charlemagne and adopted as the Holy Roman Empire's symbol. Reckoning this fact, it is no longer astonishing that in Austria, Germany and Spain, the double-headed, black or golden eagles were taken as national symbols. The following question remains: why was this bird of prey idolized? An etymological reminder could be a hint. [...]

[...] This explanation guarantees a conducive comparison for any political leader. Furthermore, the eagle has a religious connotation, and sometimes the object of worship, perceived as a snake predator, and therefore as the deliverer from evil. A particular illustration of the use of eagle symbolism is Spain. However, this country has dealt with for very contradictory ideological purposes. In fact, it was first adopted by Isabel and Ferdinand i.e. the Catholic Kings. Those who believed in a Hispanic Empire chose the Eagle of Saint John to represent their crown across the ocean. [...]

[...] Nearly five hundred years later, Franco unburied their representation of power, mostly composed by the yoke and the arrows, and including the eagle. From 1938, the bird entered the Spanish coat of arms. If we consider ideology as the gathering of beliefs and ideas relevant to an individual, a group or a society, the eagle could have been the metaphor for the eagerness of Spain to quench its thirst for supremacy through political repression. Francos's brutal grasp of power mirrors the clench on an eagle's claws diving down on his prey. [...]

[...] L'imagerie animale comme métaphore du pouvoir politique : analyse du symbole "aigle" Throughout Western history, animal imagery has been used as metaphors of political power. Choose a particular animal image or symbol belonging to a political regime and critically discuss the ideological background that you believe to be at work behind its deployment. Be sure to define your usage of the word “ideological” The myriad of symbols which have characterised the History of politics renders the aim of studying this imagery ever more arduous. [...]