Franco’s Spain: A Deep Dive into the Dictatorship (1939-1975)
Franco’s Spain (1939-1975)
Key Aspects of the Franco Regime
1. Franco’s Ideology
Franco’s regime was military, nationalist, conservative, and deeply Catholic, staunchly opposing communism.
2. Core Features of Francoism
Franco’s dictatorship can be summarized by these main points:
- Dictatorship: The 1931 Constitution was repealed, eliminating human rights, free elections, regional autonomy, minority languages (Catalan, Basque, Galician), and the separation of powers. Franco controlled all three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial).
- Single-Party System: All parties and unions were banned, with members imprisoned or executed. The exception was the fascist Falange party and Carlism, which were merged into the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS, with Franco as its leader.
- Militarism: Franco, a military commander since 1936, established a political system supported by the army after the Civil War. Military personnel filled positions in public administration and business.
- Catholicism: The Catholic Church, which had opposed the Second Republic, supported Franco. In return, Franco declared Catholicism the official religion, removing religious freedom and censoring education and culture.
3. Stages of the Franco Regime
Franco’s rule evolved over time, with three distinct stages:
a) The Era of Autarky (1940-1949)
This period was characterized by hunger, poverty, executions, imprisonment, and concentration camps. Franco initially sympathized with Hitler and Mussolini during World War II but remained officially neutral. After the Allied victory in 1945, Franco’s fascist regime became isolated.
To reduce imports, Franco established economic autarky, prioritizing Spanish goods. The Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) was founded to create new industries.
Autarky was a failure, leading to poverty and corruption. Government control of the economy and price fixing resulted in food and energy shortages. Rationing was introduced, and a black market emerged.
b) The 1950s
During the Cold War, the United States sought allies, ending Franco’s international isolation. Franco collaborated with the United States and was accepted into the UN and other international organizations.