Spain Under Franco: From Stabilization to Transition (1950s-1970s)
Spain Under Franco (1950s-1970s)
The Fifties: Stabilization
Leveraging his anti-communist stance, Franco gained acceptance from the Allies and entry into international organizations. Key events include the 1953 concordat with the Vatican, granting the regime Catholic status while reserving the government’s right to intervene in bishop appointments. The same year saw agreements with the U.S., allowing military facilities in Spain and the import of agricultural products to stabilize prices, further bolstering international recognition. In 1955, Spain joined the UN.
From 1951, the government allowed some price freedom, and additional income from overtime improved workers’ conditions. While agriculture remained the primary activity, industrial growth began around 1950, alongside the development of tourism.
Repression eased in the early fifties, with only minor boycotts. However, from 1956, workers’ purchasing power declined. The opposition remained divided, with the PCE as the main internal force. Nationalist sentiment resurged, and ETA was formed by university students who split from the PNV.
The Sixties: Development
With internal opposition repressed, economic challenges became Franco’s primary concern. To address this, he reduced the Falange’s influence and empowered technocrats. The 1959 Stabilization Plan aimed to stimulate economic growth and reduce the public deficit. The 1964 Development Plan, lasting until 1975, focused on economic growth, full employment, better income distribution, integration into the global economy, encouraging private initiative, and developing industrial centers in less developed provinces.
This led to significant industrialization, fueled by remittances from over 3 million migrants abroad, tourism revenue, and foreign investment. Banks and large industrial groups benefited most.
Consequences of Development
Four million farmers migrated to urban areas or other European countries seeking better employment. The influx of summer tourists impacted coastal agriculture. Provincial income distribution remained stagnant. Industrial investment outpaced public services, leading to shortages in schools and other essential amenities. Foreign contact introduced new political and social ideas.
A growing desire for change emerged among the middle class and industrial workers. In 1962, opponents in Munich denounced Franco’s regime and called for democracy. The PCE maintained pressure through the CCOO union. Franco reaffirmed his power by approving the TOP in 1962. Young nationalist movements linked nationalism with anti-Franco sentiment, with ETA opting for armed struggle.
In 1956, a referendum approved the Organic Law of State, separating the Head of State from the Prime Minister and allowing for political associations. Juan Carlos de Borbón was named Franco’s successor in 1969.
The Seventies: The End of the Franco Regime
The regime weakened in the 1970s. Opposition grew, and tensions remained high. Backlash against the Burgos Trials in 1970 increased internal opposition and international isolation, strengthening reactionary elements within the regime. The 1970s oil crisis further strained the economy.
In 1973, ETA assassinated Admiral Carrero Blanco, Franco’s appointed Prime Minister. His successor, Carlos Arias Navarro, initially hinted at reforms but failed to deliver. Franco’s illness in 1974 coincided with Morocco’s invasion of Spanish Sahara. Opposition parties formed platforms advocating for change, debating reform or rupture.
Franco’s final political act was approving death sentences for militants from ETA and FRAP, sparking widespread indignation and solidifying his image as a decrepit dictator. Franco died on November 20, 1975.