Spain’s Diplomatic, Economic, and Political Evolution Under Franco
Difficulties in Diplomatic Ties
In 1945, Spain was not accepted for UN membership. France closed its border in 1946, and major democratic powers considered the removal of Franco, the abolition of the Falange, and a peaceful transition to a liberal regime. Ambassadors were withdrawn from Madrid.
Minimum support came from Salazar (Portugal) and Perón (Argentina).
The situation changed with the outbreak of the Cold War. Democratic countries concluded that Franco posed less of a threat compared to Russia at the time. Spain gradually gained acceptance in international UN agencies. Several factors explain this shift in foreign attitude: the division of the opposition to the regime (left split) and fear of a return to civil war.
Franco later, without changing the system, altered the external appearance, diminishing the Falange’s prominence and enacting a series of ineffective laws.
Definitive international recognition came in 1953 with a concordat with the Vatican and pacts with the U.S.
In 1948, Don Juan de Borbón met with Franco, agreeing that his son, Juan Carlos, would be educated in Spain.
Economic Development and Liberalization
The 1960s saw three essential factors of development:
- Tourism
- The liberalization of foreign investment
- Labor migration to Europe, providing greater opportunities and capital import
Economic growth was significant, particularly in industry, aligning with European trends.
In contrast to this economic and social change, political liberalization was limited, creating a gap between policy and social reality. The previous political class was partially replaced by a new one, characterized by restraint and greater preparedness, especially in economic matters.
Legislative Changes
- Labor legislation in 1965 decriminalized strikes.
- The Press Law (1966) aimed to facilitate a change in Spanish society’s mentality but fell short of true freedom of expression.
- The Organic Law of the State (1967) represented a step from a dictatorial regime towards a limited monarchy.
- Appointment of Don Juan Carlos de Borbón as Franco’s heir.
A new opposition emerged, and the largest protests against the regime were social and spontaneous, with strikes extending to previously unaffected regions and sectors. The largest union was CCOO.
The Tardofranquismo
These were the final years of the regime, marked by Franco’s natural decline, economic development issues, and the growth of the opposition, which began to lay the groundwork for the transition.
- Increasing oil prices led to an economic crisis due to extreme dependence on external sources.
- The execution of five terrorists after a trial without legal safeguards caused further international isolation for Franco’s Spain.
- The question of withdrawing from Spanish Sahara arose in 1963, and Ifni was surrendered in 1968, while Guinea gained independence.