Francoist Spain: Ideological Roots and Societal Impact
Introduction
Following the Spanish Civil War, Spain was devastated demographically, socially, and economically. However, the moral consequences were the most significant. The wounds caused by the repression on both sides, and carried out by the Franco regime after the war (imprisonment, death, marginalization), meant that the war did not bring peace but victory. The regime was dedicated to erasing all traces of the existing Republican society. From 1939 to 1948, Spain experienced the most repressive period in its contemporary history. Historians refer to this regime as the “Franco dictatorship” because it was a personal dictatorship with characteristics of other dictatorships, but without a clear and homogeneous ideology. Franco was a military man with a limited political repertoire, based on a military concept of life and Catholic traditionalism.
Ideological Foundations
The ideological basis of the regime was that Spain had defeated “anti-Spain.” The enemy was excluded from the national community; the victors did not consider the other side to be Spanish. The Civil War was reframed as a war of liberation. Franco’s dictatorship was neither purely fascist nor purely military, but of a personal nature, bearing similarities to previous ones. It rejected 19th-century ideological currents and sought to replace them with purely Spanish ones. In the Franco dictatorship, there was no single political party imposing total control, as in fascist regimes. Instead, there were different political families, with Franco acting as the supreme judge and arbiter. Franco himself did not adhere to a specific ideological current.
The various political families that supported him contributed their ideological principles. The goal was clear: to seize all power and maintain it over time. Power was justified by a charismatic or providential leader.
Recognized Ideological Principles: National Patriotism, Fascism, Traditionalism
- National Patriotism: The primary ideological contribution was national patriotism and a traditional, unitary vision of Spain.
- Military Spirit: Ideas of hierarchy, discipline, austerity, authoritarianism, and harsh repression dominated the various stages of the dictatorship.
- Anti-Communism: After undergoing purification following the Civil War, the regime became a staunch defender of national unity and public order.
- Fascist Influence: Initially, Franco chose Italian Fascism as a model, and the Falange, the Spanish fascist party, provided significant ideological baggage, including hyper-nationalism, the ethics of violence and repression, sexism, the idea of Spain as an empire, the exaltation of the leader, and corporatism.
- National Catholicism: This was reflected in the defense of religion and Catholic morality in its most traditional form, seen as intrinsic to Spain itself.
Rejected Ideological Principles: Liberalism, Communism
The military, the Falange, the Church, and the Carlists blamed the liberal system of the Republic for the ills that Spain had suffered. They opted for a system without political parties, elections, separation of powers, a parliament, or any institutions characteristic of a liberal system. The regime’s obsession with Judaism, Freemasonry, and communism stemmed from the belief that they were introducing the evils of the century.
Social Support
- Catholics: They consistently held ministerial positions, usually in education and foreign affairs. Traditionalist Catholics held political hegemony between 1943 and 1957, when they were replaced by Opus Dei.
- Falange and the Movement: They were always present in the councils of ministers and Spanish society. The Falange had its hegemony at the beginning of the dictatorship, during the so-called “Blue Phase.” The Movement gained prominence towards the end of the regime.
- Military: The military was the mainstay of the regime and the architect of the victory. It was always tightly controlled by Franco and subordinate to him. The military was present in the government, in the cabinet, and in intermediate positions.
- Monarchists: They were divided into Carlists and supporters of Don Juan. The Carlists were consistently present in the councils of ministers, aligned with Catholic traditionalism and conservatism, and held substantial public office.
- Pure Francoists: This was an important sector, chaired by Carrero Blanco until 1973.
Social Bases
Franco had the support of a vast majority of Spanish society. In the early days, especially until 1948, the repression was so fierce that the existing opposition was physically and/or personally eliminated, either by disposal or transition to a passive society. The power bloc, controlled by a victorious oligarchy, temporarily leaned on a sector of the middle classes. The gentry had won. The working class had lost. Wearing a tie, hat, and trimmed mustache was a guarantee of safety against any street incident.
Institutions
Franco’s regime initiated an institutional strengthening process based on three pillars:
- The Army: It had a significant presence in all aspects of society. The army participated in all types of courts and public and social events. It controlled repression, directed the police, was involved in economic policy, and provided many key symbols and the ideology of the regime through the doctrine of military leadership.
- Franco: As the central figure of the dictatorship, Franco held ultimate authority and controlled all aspects of the regime.
- The Falange/Movement: This served as the political arm of the regime, providing a framework for political organization and mobilization.