Franco’s Regime: Social Support and Societal Changes in Spain
Social Support of Franco’s Regime
Franco’s government had many followers in all social groups, including the working class. Most of the Spanish population identified with the Franco regime or passively accepted it. The support of the regime was extensive and heterogeneous. Some of the factors that explain this huge social support for the dictator, which allowed him to stay in power for 40 years, were:
- The vivid memory of the disasters of the Civil War
- Resignation and fear
- Suppression effectiveness
- Influence of official propaganda
- Media controlled by the regime
Sectors Closely Aligned with the Regime
The sectors that worked most closely with the regime were the same ones who had joined the anti-Republican military uprising of 1936 and who were on Franco’s side during the Civil War. These sectors were:
The Military
The military were convinced that they must defend the dictatorship of Franco against internal enemies. They faithfully obeyed and were disciplined because they shared the ideological principles of the leader and never questioned his authority.
Catholics
Along with the Vatican’s diplomatic support, the regime received valuable support from Spanish Catholics, Opus Dei, and the National Association of Catholic Propagandists. The Church provided important ideological and propaganda cooperation to the government, which in turn gave it virtually exclusive control of education, censorship, and much of the media.
Falangists
By 1940, the internal structure of the Spanish Falange had already been defined, and the implementation of the following was complete:
- The Female Section
- The Youth Front
- The Spanish Syndicated College
- Social Assistance
The Spanish Phalanx benefited from the allocation of posts and positions in all sectors of state administration, municipal institutions, and educational and cultural agencies.
Carlists
Their most prominent leaders always maintained a close relationship with the regime and were chosen by Franco to perform ministerial duties in municipal positions.
Business Support
Business sectors also cooperated with the Franco government. They were favored by the law and obtained many benefits from the regime. Profits rose thanks to big orders for the construction of infrastructure and public works.
Monarchists
Almost all anti-liberal right-wing monarchists supported the regime.
The relationships between the different groups that formed the framework of the Franco regime were not always good. Disputes to gain greater influence with Franco, mutual suspicion, and clashes were frequent enough.
Social Transformation (1960-1970)
The strong economic development of the 1960s had a significant demographic impact. It led to rapid social change and also contributed to changing the ways of life and the collective values of the Spanish. The total population increased from 30 million in 1960 to 33 million in 1970. The urban middle classes also experienced considerable growth. The number of employees in the service sector stood at 39% of the workforce and exceeded the number of industrial workers in the early 1970s.
The massive influx of foreign tourists, the expansion of large cities, the rural exodus, and the increase in consumption and material well-being completely transformed the needs, behaviors, habits, and forms of entertainment for many Spaniards. The modernization and Europeanization of Spanish society brought about a profound change of values, ideas, and collective expectations regarding family life, the role of women, sex, and the education of children.
Women began to break with subordination to men, overwhelmingly entered universities, dared to drive, and were incorporated into the working world. Meanwhile, young people benefited from increased permissiveness and relaxation of the strict discipline previously existing in households and schools.
The Last Years of the Dictatorship
Different forms of opposition gained strength in the last years of the dictatorship, and the regime became uneasy. College students, trade unions, and new underground progressive sectors were the stars of the new wave of protests against Franco. Clashes between riot police and university students became increasingly common. The number of strikes continued to grow since 1970. Given the magnitude of these worker and student protests, the government responded by unleashing strong repression and making layoffs affecting thousands of workers.