Francoist Spain: From Isolation to Transformation
The End of Isolation: The Agreement with the United States
The Cold War between the US and the USSR made the West overlook the totalitarian nature of the Franco regime. Spain’s anti-communist stance led to a gradual lifting of trade restrictions and favorable statements. In the late 1950s, negotiations with the US and the Vatican led to the UN lifting its recommendation to withdraw ambassadors and authorizing Spain’s entry into international organizations. The decisive event in breaking the isolation was the signing of a military agreement with the US in 1953, allowing the installation of US bases in Spain. This agreement set the stage for a 10-year economic agreement. The same year, a new concordat was signed between the Vatican and Spain. Finally, Spain recognized the independence of Morocco and initiated the decolonization of the Protectorate, following UN recommendations.
The Autarky of War
In 1939, Spain was a demographically and economically ruined country, with the majority of the population facing hunger. The authorities opted for an autarkic economic regime with state intervention. A series of decrees set prices and implemented an interventionist system. The consequences were dire: poor harvests, low production, a thriving black market, and widespread corruption.
The End of Autarky in the 1950s
By the early 1950s, the failure of the autarkic policy was evident. The Franco regime shifted its economic policy, starting in 1951 with a partial release of prices and trade. This led to economic growth, aided by US assistance. However, the crisis of 1957 convinced the government of the need for further reform.
The 1959 Stabilization Plan
This economic reform aimed to achieve high growth, rapid industrialization, and the integration of the Spanish economy into the international system. The New Ordinance-Law on Economic Management was approved in 1959 as a stabilization plan.
Economic Development of the 1960s
Between 1959 and 1960, a strong economic slowdown occurred, with falling wages and reduced consumption. However, the objectives of deficit reduction were achieved. The Spanish economy grew at a high rate, based mainly on the industrial sector and increased services. Industrial expansion was fueled by low wages and massive foreign investment. This growth resulted in strong rural-urban migration. Overall, the Spanish economic growth between 1961 and 1973 was high and constant, leading to a profound transformation of the productive fabric and closer ties with the international community.
The First Francoist Spain
Spanish society in the 1940s and 1950s was marked by poverty, technological and scientific backwardness, and cultural stagnation. Hunger and misery affected peasants and urban workers alike. The impoverished classes became increasingly discontent.
Spanish Society in the 1960s: Migration and Imbalance
From 1960, thanks to economic growth, Spanish society began to experience significant changes. Mass emigration from rural areas occurred, with the majority of the population moving to big cities seeking employment in industry. This growth accentuated imbalances in wealth distribution. Low wages and a regressive tax system kept workers’ living standards low.
Population Growth and Public Services
Economic growth caused a large population increase, known as the ‘baby boom’. This required a significant expansion of schools and healthcare facilities. The education system focused on expanding public education. Social benefits and public spending remained low in Spain, and urban growth was often chaotic. Large cities were becoming metropolitan areas.
Signs of Modernization
The concentration of the population in major cities changed the way of life for many Spaniards. By the end of the decade, electricity had reached almost the entire country. Many homes had telephones and household appliances. The Seat 600 became a symbol of the era.
The Francoist Guerrillas
Many Republican fighters remained hostile to the regime after the war. They went into hiding and began a campaign of harassment against the army. Led mainly by anarchists and communists, guerrilla operations intensified from 1945, forcing the army and the Civil Guard to combat them. Gradually, the guerrillas were defeated.
The First University Crisis and Social Protests of 1956
In the early 1950s, protests against the dictatorship reappeared. Strikes erupted in Barcelona, Madrid, and the Basque Country against price increases and tram fares. There were also covert strikes against low wages. However, the most important protest movement started in universities. Professors and students called for greater freedom of expression. Tensions erupted in February 1956 when the Falangists, defeated in the Faculty of Law elections in Madrid, responded with violence. Two days of street fighting led to severe police repression. Several student leaders and intellectuals were arrested. This demonstrated that a new generation was ready to oppose the dictatorship.
The Opposition Parties and Trade Unions
In the labor movement, the Workers’ Commissions, which emerged in 1962, played a key role as an alternative to the official trade unions. Other unions, such as the UGT and CNT, also began to rebuild, but their tactics were limited to infiltrating the official trade union organization.
The Growing Struggle in the 1960s and 1970s
The opposition movement articulated itself through protests. The first wave of strikes started in factories in 1962, originating from the difficulties posed by economic development.