Over sixty readers thought our ‘Behind the scenes’ column in the Spring 2026 edition worth a click, so we shall once again throw open the doors on our Bulletin-brained thought processes in case those or other readers find solace in them.
Firstly, the afterglow of our 2025 Essay Competition continues to illuminate us over six months on. Those who sent in ‘commended’ (but not winning) entries have now re-drafted them in consultation with our editors, so that their new versions are now top-quality and ready for publication. All in all, ten of the essays submitted last September have now been published. This has proved popular: student authors have commented, “Amazing, thank you ever so much! I love the edits!”, “Thank you again, this publication is really exciting”, “I truly appreciate your efforts in helping improve my article!”, among others. We are grateful for that feedback – very welcome to the team here who keep the Bulletin going pro bono. We are also grateful that the University of Glasgow continues to sponsor the Competition, which we like to think of as the best of its kind for Sixth Form hispanists.
Secondly, our co-founder Professor Hart has a fascinating life as a global hispanist. We have long hoped that he would lift the curtain on some of the extraordinary situations that puts him in, so we were delighted when he produced this edition’s anecdote about Santa Rosa and the Pope. We were particularly gratified to coax him into making the second draft twice as long as his first. It’s a delightful vignette, not to be missed.
One of the joys of the Bulletin is that, however long one has been a hispanist, there are always fascinating new insights to be had into the Spanish-speaking world. For example, in our ignorance, some of us had assumed Bad Bunny was a transient and possibly rather irritating commercial construct until Colin Harding’s article revealed a very different reality, with repercussions well beyond show-business. What a joy when the doors of one’s closed mind are suddenly kicked open.
Another paradigm-shifting article is Clara Riveros’ conversation with two eminent Latin American professors about President Trump’s ‘Shield for the Americas’. This initiative seems to turn on its head the relationship between north and south, in line with an arcane but remorselessly logical new approach: ie Latin American states are overwhelmed with crime and drug cartels, so forget about established notions of sovereignty and equality between states and harness US power to crush the perpetrators. Previous BAS articles on the Bukele approach in El Salvador (eg in our Spring and Summer editions of 2024) were early indicators of what was happening. Hats off to Clara for making a complex topic so clear. Is there a better politóloga than Clara not tenured at a university in the whole of Latin America? We doubt it, and count ourselves very fortunate to have had her spearheading our Latin America coverage for the past several years.
This summer edition is launching over a month earlier than normal. In previous years our June launch date made it difficult for school and university-based readers to absorb. By launching this edition at the end of April, we anticipate being more useful to a larger readership. This academic year’s earlier deadlines of 25 Sept, 25 January and 25 April seem to have made life easier for all concerned, so will stay.
Hot tips to get published in the Autumn Bulletin 2026? We’re still looking for an author to write about Rosalía. We’re also intrigued by the way in which Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez has staked out a position of moral leadership in resisting the Trump administration’s foreign policy. How will that look in September, when we gather articles for the next edition? Could you be the person to tell the story? Or you might write about somewhere amazing in the Spanish-speaking world that you encounter during your summer travels….
And yes, we’re looking for a new Senior Editor to take the reins in the next year or so. As we said last time, “perhaps you, valued reader, might know someone who would enjoy taking on that role? Perhaps you yourself would find it inspiring to do so? The position might suit a teacher, lecturer, journalist, tour guide or diplomat scaling back on their workload, a graduate looking to expand into publishing, or a technological wizard able to harness virtual resources to facilitate the editorial process.”
To share your ideas on this, or any other matter, you’re welcome to get in touch via the Contact Us button or our email address – bulletinofadvancedspanish@gmail.com . We’d be delighted to hear from you.
¡Buen verano!
Bulletin of Advanced Spanish 