Julián Santamaría Ossorio

Julián Santamaría Ossorio (diplomat, political scientist)
Born	1940 Mérida, Extremadura, Spain
Died	31 December 2020 (Age 80) Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Alma mater	Complutense University of Madrid, Yale
Interests	opinion poll
Spanish opinion poll maker who helped the 'Yes' campaign in 1986 referendum on NATO membership by using his opinion polls for propaganda purposes. Then became Ambassador to the United States. Attended Bilderberg/1987.  Spanish Ambassador to the United States of America In office 31 March 1987 - 1990

Julian Santamaría Ossorio was a Spanish political scientist and diplomat. He helped the 'Yes' campaign in 1986 referendum on NATO membership by using his opinion polls for propaganda purposes, after which he became Ambassador to the United States. He attended the 1987 Bilderberg meeting.

Education

Santamaría studied at the Jesuits' class of '57, at the Complutense University of Madrid and at Yale (USA) between 1971-1973, among other universities.

Career

He was Professor of Political Science at the Complutense University of Madrid, and taught at several Spanish and foreign universities. He was the author of numerous publications related to the Spanish transition from the Franco era, democracy, its institutions, political parties and electoral systems.

Santamaría was director of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (Sociological Research Center) (CIS) from 1983 until 1987. During his presidency of the CIS, he extended the use of opinion polls in the political process in Spain.

He was the promoter of the survey of the controversial referendum on Spain remaining in NATO in March 1986. At a tense moment of the campaign leading up to the referendum, Santamaría predicted the victory of the 'Yes' by more than ten points, compared to the prediction of victory of the 'No' by a wide margin predicted by all the demographic institutes and the media.

He was Ambassador of Spain in Washington from 1987 to 1990. During his time as a diplomat, he became the interlocutor with the Reagan administration in the elaboration of the new agreement between the United States and Spain that led to a new regulation and statute of the American bases in Spain. One of the most prominent changes was that the military bases with an American presence were reduced from four to two: the American Armed Forces could no longer use the bases of Zaragoza and Torrejón, only Rota and Morón.

He was president of the Spanish Association of Political Science and Administration from 1997 until 2001.

 

Event Participated in

Event	Start	End	Location(s)	Description
Bilderberg/1987	24 April 1987	26 April 1987	Italy Cernobbio	35th Bilderberg, in Italy, 106 participants

Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.