Philosephardism as a Discursive Topos

This chapter analyzes Philosephardism as a discursive topos within the Spanish political context, highlighting its origins and persistence over time. Through the examination of discourses by Senator ngel Pulido Fernndez and subsequent sources, it demonstrates how Philosephardism has structured itself into a network of commonplace ideas deeply rooted in Spanish collective memory. This topos , mainly based on nostalgia and cultural bonds between Sephardic Jews and Spain, systematically resurfaces in institutional discourses, legitimizing political initiatives such as the 2015 law for the naturalization of Sephardic Jews. The methodological approach combines discourse-historical and socio-cognitive analyses to understand how this argumentative structure has sedimented, contributing to constructing an idealized image of Sephardic Jews, distinct from other Jews, and functional to Spanish identity narratives.