Franco’s Spain: State Structure and Ideology
Cultural Consequences of the War
The war was also a cultural catastrophe. Most intellectuals rallied in support of the Republic and were subsequently exiled, meaning the country lost most of its prominent writers, artists, and professionals.
Establishing the Francoist State
On April 1, 1939, the Spanish Civil War ended. Franco’s victory gave him absolute power, marking the beginning of a long dictatorship.
Franco’s Consolidation of Power
Franco brought together the diverse forces opposed to the Republic, controlled them, and relied on them to govern. However, Francoism was more than just the personal rule of Franco; it was also a political-social system that evolved to ensure its permanence and continuity. Changes to the regime were often forced by foreign pressures and the transformation of Spanish society.
Nature of the Franco Regime
Historians have debated the nature of the regime: whether it was totalitarian and fascist, a military dictatorship, or simply an authoritarian, conservative, clerical regime – or perhaps a mix of all these elements. It was fundamentally a personal dictatorship that suppressed rights and freedoms, was repressive, and lacked a highly elaborate ideology.
From the start, the system was equipped with symbols, laws, and institutions inspired by fascism, some of which remained until the end. Others disappeared over the years, especially after the defeat of fascism in World War II. Franco later changed his rhetoric, denying the fascist nature of his regime and presenting it as uniquely Spanish, without connections to other systems.
The Fundamental Laws
The new state was established without a constitution, political parties, or civil liberties. This lack of democratic structure was addressed by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm (Leyes Fundamentales del Reino), issued as needed according to the evolution of the system:
- The Labour Charter (Fuero del Trabajo, 1938): Established principles for labour and the economy.
- The Courts Act (Ley Constitutiva de las Cortes, 1942): Theoretically endowed Spain with a ‘representative’ institution.
- The Charter of the Spanish (Fuero de los Españoles, 1945): Outlined Spaniards’ rights and duties, limited by obedience to the regime’s principles, and established the Catholic confessional state.
- The National Referendum Law (Ley del Referéndum Nacional, 1945): Allowed significant laws to be submitted to a popular referendum.
- The Law of Succession (Ley de Sucesión en la Jefatura del Estado, 1947): Defined Spain as a kingdom and established rules for Franco’s succession.
- The Law of the Principles of the National Movement (Ley de Principios del Movimiento Nacional, 1958): Enshrined the guiding principles, largely taken from the Falange, as permanent and unalterable.
Structure of the Francoist State
Franco’s Absolute Authority
After the war, Franco was Generalissimo of the armies, Head of State, Head of Government, and leader of the single party (FET y de las JONS). He assumed legislative powers. His absolute power was subject to a fascist-style personality cult. This quasi-mystical authority absolved him of any control; he claimed to answer only “before God and before history.”
The Cortes Españolas
In 1942, the Cortes were created to give the system an appearance of representation. However, the Cortes were not sovereign but merely an advisory body without real power, serving Franco. The members (procuradores) represented the regime’s elite (family, municipality, syndicate) rather than the populace directly. This system was termed Organic Democracy.
Labour and Syndicalism under Franco
In 1938, during the war, the Labour Charter (Fuero del Trabajo) was adopted, forming the basis of vertical trade unionism and national syndicalism, inspired by Fascist Italy.
- There was a single, official trade union organisation (Organización Sindical Española) under the leadership of the Falange.
- This union mandatorily brought together workers and employers within the same corporate structures (vertical unions).
- Strikes were prohibited.
Ideological Pillars of Francoism
Franco relied on the support of the Army, the Catholic Church, and the Falange, which formed the pillars of the regime. Despite their internal differences, Franco skillfully controlled them for his own benefit and the stability of the system.
The Army
The Army became the backbone and foundation of the regime. It remained consistently loyal to Franco. Military courts held jurisdiction over political crimes, and the official state of war declared in 1936 continued until April 1948.
The Catholic Church
The Church blessed and provided moral and spiritual legitimacy to the ‘Uprising’ (Alzamiento Nacional). It identified closely with the regime, became an integral part of it, and established the basis for National Catholicism (Nacionalcatolicismo). The Church used its influential position to impose its religious rules and moral standards on society. Religion, with its symbols, became ubiquitous. Franco placed control over education firmly in the hands of the Church.
The Falange
The Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS (FET y de las JONS), the single party, adapted the original doctrines of José Antonio Primo de Rivera and operated under Franco’s supreme leadership. Franco utilized it as a tool to maintain the spirit and ideals of 1936, to mobilize support, and to control public opinion through its various branches (youth, women, press, etc.). However, its significant initial political power gradually declined over the decades.