Francoist Spain (1939-1975)
Francoism, Postwar (1939-1959)
Dictatorship
Francoism was a political doctrine based on anti-liberalism and the rejection of socialism and communism. It promoted Catholicism, the exaltation of work, and aggressive Spanish nationalism. Power was concentrated in the hands of Franco, with centralization through civil governors in the provinces. The army and the Catholic Church were the two main pillars of the regime. The Church enjoyed a privileged position in society: it was funded by the state and was the sole source of ideological indoctrination, exercising social control over public life.
7 Fundamental Laws
- Fuero del Trabajo: As a negation of the class struggle, it banned trade union rights and exalted work as a service to the nation.
- Fuero de los Españoles: It contained rights that were either impossible to exercise or limited, granted only by the regime.
- National Referendum Law: It mandated plebiscites on major policy decisions.
- Constituent Cortes Law: It established the Cortes, the Francoist legislature.
- Law of Principles of the National Movement: It outlined the fundamental ideological principles of the early Francoist movement.
- Organic Law of the State: It defined the structure and functions of the state.
- Law of Succession: It established Juan Carlos as the future King of Spain and Franco as Chief of State for life, with the right to appoint his successor.
Autarquía (Self-sufficiency)
Autarquía aimed at promoting national production and resulted in isolation, misery, and rationing. The three years of civil war had disrupted the Spanish economy. Agricultural and industrial production plummeted, roads and transportation were destroyed, and currency and gold reserves were depleted. Buildings and factories were damaged.
Autarquía’s two main actions:
- Regulation of imports and exports.
- Consequences: Expensive products and scarcity of essential goods.
Industry:
- Lack of equipment and public aid.
- Industries received substantial and continuous public funding, generating significant public expenditure and inflationary effects.
Rationing and Black Market:
- The state intervened in the economy, replacing the free market with arbitrary price fixing and forcing individuals to request authorization for economic activities.
- Generalized shortages of food and long queues.
- Emergence of the black market.
- Insufficient food quantities guaranteed by rationing cards led to hunger.
Maquis
Communist guerrillas organized primarily by anarchists.
Failure of Autarquía
Autarquía worsened living standards in rural areas and increased income inequality. Wages were reduced due to strict price and wage controls, aggravated by trade union repression, leading to harsh living conditions. Worker and popular protests erupted, highlighting the need for changes in the regime’s economic policies. The regime’s objectives failed (self-sufficiency, arbitrary price and currency policies).
The U.S. abandoned its stance against Franco and provided economic aid to Spain in exchange for its support against communism. Francoism achieved international success: it signed a new concordat with the Catholic Church, strengthening their alliance, and reached an agreement with the U.S. This ended Francoism’s international isolation.
Economic Growth in the 1960s
The exit from autarquía coincided with a phase of economic expansion in Europe and the existence of an industrial base that had been consolidating throughout the 20th century. Without these two elements, the government’s liberalization measures would have had limited results.
Stabilization Plan:
- Ended autarquía.
- Reduced state intervention.
Economic and Social Development Plans:
- Focused on the industrial sector and actions to improve the efficiency of the business structure, both sectorally and regionally.
- Two main actions: Structural measures (industrial estates) and the creation of development poles.
- Forecasts were met, but with limited effects.
Spain’s integration into the international economy was a decisive factor in explaining this rapid economic growth and the consolidation of an industrialized society. Technology came from abroad through imports. Tourism became a fundamental source of income. Immigrants sent currency to Spain, providing cheap labor and reducing social unrest. Spain became an attractive place for foreign investment.
Cultural Changes
New Song
A phenomenon linked to the democratic movement and the cultural recovery.
Mass Opposition
Worker Protests
Worker protests were the main focus of social tension. Protests were organized around the new Workers’ Commissions. They combined illegal actions (strikes) with legal ones. Student uprisings were also a significant phenomenon. The uncontrolled growth of cities and speculation led to problems in new neighborhoods, causing deep unease and accelerating the formation of neighborhood associations and movements.
Crisis of the Regime
Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, the Prime Minister, was assassinated by ETA. This had an extraordinary impact, as he was seen as the guarantor of the regime’s continuity. Franco appointed Carlos Arias Navarro, who formed a new government and announced limited reforms. Repression increased, and the Anti-Terrorism Law was approved under the pretext of ETA and FRAP’s activities. The death penalty was reinstated, leading to the execution of Catalan anarchist Salvador Puig Antich, despite international protests.
The global economic crisis limited Spain’s development, causing an economic crisis within the dictatorship, coupled with terrorist actions.
The final crisis of Franco’s regime fostered the formation of unitary platforms seeking a democratic alternative. The Assembly of Catalonia (Assemblea de Catalunya) was formed, coordinating various political forces (PSUC, MSC, ERC, and FNC). The unitary process culminated in the establishment of the Assembly of Catalonia. The PCE promoted the Democratic Junta, which brought together the CCOO, PSP, and other anti-Franco groups. The PSOE promoted the Democratic Convergence Platform.