Tempora mutantur

This chapter examines the historical, social, and political context in which the work of José Villacañas, which can be considered a ‘colloquy of ideas’, was developed. Villacañas’s work offers a critical and complex reading of the formation of the Spanish state and its modern consequences. In terms of current thinkers, Villacañas presents himself as an intellectual who directly confronts contemporary challenges, using a critical approach to history. In his work, he deals with fundamental texts, such as those of Freud, which are a standard reference for studying his theories in depth. On a global level, Villacañas observes a fundamental change: the collapse of the utopia of globalisation, which assumed that the progress of capitalism and democracy went hand in hand. Freedom was spoken of in terms of trade, movement, conscience, and media, all linked to a structure of human rights. However, Villacañas stresses that this has come to an end and attempts to reflect on history and the mechanisms of power.