Social and Political Movements in Spain During the 1960s and 70s
Social Movements of Opposition in Spain During the 1960s and 70s
Labor Disputes and the Rise of Trade Unions
The workers’ protest was the main source of social tension in the 1960s, which grew in intensity with strikes and workers’ claims. Labor disputes increased dramatically and were located mainly in “union” areas such as Asturias, Barcelona, Madrid, and Vigo.
In 1962, a miners’ strike took place in Asturias, which spread through the country’s main industrial centers.
The labor unrest stimulated the emergence of a trade union movement outside the official channels. In 1964, Workers’ Commissions were created in Barcelona, a union that promoted independent and democratic labor and political struggle. The new organization combined illegal action (strikes) with legal action. Later, in 1967, the Workers’ Syndical Union was founded.
The Student Movement
A second element of response was the student movement. In 1966, University of Barcelona students formed the Democratic Union of Students (SDEUB). It completed an official union and organized future protests.
Other Social Movements
In the 1970s, other social movements emerged, among them, neighborhood organizations reached major importance.
The dissemination of reformist tenets of Vatican II and the concern for social injustice led to the emergence, within the Catholic Church, of attitudes critical of the dictatorship. The claim for democracy also reached the ranks of the army, where a group of officers created the Military Democratic Union.
Political Groups Opposed to Franco
The extension of social unrest led to the emergence of political opposition to the regime.
Political Opposition in Catalonia
In Catalonia, the organization on the left with a more solid underground structure was the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia. Social organizations like the Workers’ Front of Catalonia (1961) and the Catalan Socialist Movement also played an important role. Other political groups had a token presence, although not active: Democratic Union of Catalonia, National Front of Catalonia, and Republican Left of Catalonia. All this opposition coordinated their actions and created the Coordinating Committee of Political Forces of Catalonia (1969). In 1974, the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia was founded.
Political Opposition in the Rest of Spain
In the rest of the state, the most active group was the Communist Party of Spain. The moderate opposition was represented by the Christian Democrats. In 1962, some anti-Francoist political forces participated in the Fourth Congress of the European Movement, which Franco called the “Munich conspiracy.”
Political Opposition in the Basque Country
In the Basque Country, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) maintained its structure, but the most important development was the creation of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna: Basque Country and Freedom) in 1959.
The Resumption of Catalan Culture
Calling for the use of the Catalan language gave rise to a cultural renewal that took advantage of a certain tolerance from the regime. Thus, a Catalan civic movement emerged.
This movement of cultural revival was accompanied by protest campaigns in defense of Catalan and democratic freedoms. Notable events include the events at the Music Palace in Barcelona (1960), the campaign “We want Catalan bishops,” and the push for Catalan schools. There was also a pedagogical renewal (Rosa Sensat) that influenced teacher training and promoted democratization and Catalan education.