Franco Regime: Dictatorship Foundations and Spanish Stages
The Franco Regime: A Dictatorship
The Franco regime was a true dictatorship. Adjectives may vary, but it is essential to remember that Franco held all the power. Franco blamed liberalism for all of Spain’s ills. The regime was obsessed with the alleged threats of Freemasonry and Communism, ideologies always presented as foreign and hostile to Spain.
Foundations of the New State
The structure was a mixture of military dictatorship and an absolute totalitarian state without a king. All powers were concentrated in Franco, and his portrait presided over all public buildings. The ideological foundations of Francoism were:
- Anti-Communism
- Identification with Catholicism
- Traditionalism
The dictatorship returned power to the oligarchy, providing financial support for social and economic dominance. They were the main beneficiaries of economic interventionism. The structure was based on fundamental laws:
- Jurisdiction of Work
- Jurisdiction of Spanish Law establishing Courts
- Act of National Referendum
- Act of Succession
- Act of National Movement Principles of the State
Stages of Francoist Spain
1939–1951: Autarky and Isolation
Between 1939 and 1951, a series of economic measures aimed at autarky were implemented. The axes were:
- Regulation of foreign economic relations.
- Interventionism internally.
In 1939, Spain adopted neutrality toward World War II. It declared itself non-belligerent, establishing an alliance with the Axis powers. This stance led to Spain not being admitted to the UN due to its isolation.
In 1947, isolation ended as a result of the confrontation between Western democracies and the Cold War. The initial attempts at opening up were hampered by the burdens of the autarkic system. Relations became more favorable to the Franco regime. Spain began to be admitted to international organizations, and in 1955, it entered the UN.
1951–1959: Opening and Technocracy
Between 1951 and 1957, Carrero Blanco provided some international approval for Spain. In 1957, members of Opus Dei joined the government, which implied the abandonment of autarky.
The repression against the regime’s enemies was absolute; some were executed, and others were imprisoned. A purge was conducted to remove all traces of the Republic. The vanquished sought salvation in exile. The human loss negatively affected the country’s economic and cultural development.
The 1950s began the era of technocracy and developmentalism. Spain’s entry into industrialized countries was facilitated by two inseparable factors:
- The expansive phase of the Spanish economy.
- The domestic industrial base.
In 1958, Spain entered the IMF and the World Bank. In 1959, the Stabilization Plan was approved, which included:
- Liberalizing the economy.
- Reducing the money supply.
- Cutting public spending.
- Opening the Spanish economy to foreign investment.
1961–1973: Economic Growth and Social Change
By 1961, the economy grew. Industrial growth was accompanied by a rural exodus and a wave of unemployment. Since 1963, the government attempted to regulate economic growth through development plans, trying to guide the Spanish economy. Development zones were established, but their results were not as expected.
Economic growth was high and constant between 1961 and 1973, except for a dip in 1967, which forced a currency devaluation. This period brought a drastic change in living conditions and the Spanish mentality.
Per capita income remained well below European economies. Job creation was limited, and there was restricted progress in higher-technology activities. Among the new legislation, the following should be noted:
- Press Law.
- Act of the State.
The rural exodus partly solved the unemployment problem, as the population continued to grow. Spanish society adapted to important developments:
- The law imposed the nuclear family (a family structure imposed by father, mother, and children).
- Women’s access to work increased.
Post-1973: Regime Decline
The Franco regime failed to adapt to the economic, social, and cultural changes produced from the 1960s onward. The new government, headed by Arias Navarro, proposed reforms that were merely a formality. Protests against the regime intensified, and the response remained regressive.
After Franco’s death, Juan Carlos I had to take over as head of state several times, but without any real power. On November 20, Franco died, convinced that Juan Carlos would continue with the same regime.