Franco’s Regime in Spain: A Historical Analysis

Posted on Dec 8, 2024 in History

The Franco Regime

The consequences of the Spanish Civil War were severe. These included a large number of deaths, disappearances, and exiles; repression; forced labor; economic losses; and declines in output in all sectors. Landowners, the army, and the church became hegemonic elements of Francoist society. But the most impactful consequence was the victory of the rebel camp. Franco stood at the head of the country after the war. He obtained absolute power and ruled the country by dictatorship for forty years, causing a setback in all areas.

The New State

The New State had its origin in the Civil War itself. It was an illiberal regime, based on traditionalism, Catholicism, totalitarianism, anti-parliamentarism, anti-communism, and national Catholicism, due to the support of the Church. It was also centralist, and the army was the backbone of the regime. The figure of Franco was exalted, and fascist traits were used, such as the greeting and emblems. Franco’s system had the support of an administrative elite. At the top of the social pyramid stood the financial oligarchy, the landowning and industrial bourgeoisie, and middle landowners. To these must be added the staff of the Franco regime.

Two Stages of the Franco Regime

There are two stages to the Franco regime. The first, from 1939 to 1957, was marked by the clear predominance of the Falange. The Law on Repression of Masonry and Communism was approved to toughen the Criminal Code of Military Justice. The Labor Law, inspired by the Church’s social doctrine, was intended to regulate industrial relations. Official trade unions were created, as were the Spanish Cortes. It was the first step towards adopting the so-called “organic democracy,” in which representatives were not elected by universal suffrage.

The regime promulgated the Jurisdiction of the Spanish, a kind of declaration of rights that defined Spain as a “Catholic, social, and legal state.” It was intended to gain approval in Western democracies. It established a set of individual and collective freedoms, based partly on the constitution of 1876. The National Referendum Act sought to provide an image of openness. However, the international isolation to which the regime was subjected provoked a nationalist backlash at home. The regime was cleared of all the apparatus of the fascist Falange itself, while Alberto Martín Artajo was called to the government. The Act of Succession declared Spain a monarchy but did not open the way to Don Juan de Borbón, son of Alfonso XIII, as Franco reserved the head of state for life and the right to choose his successor.

Foreign Policy

In foreign policy, the great German victories of 1940 fueled belief in the Axis. Ramón Serrano Suñer, Foreign Minister, imposed a policy of engagement, thinking that the defeat of France would provide Spain with broad domains in northern Africa. In the interview at Hendaye between Franco and Hitler, no agreement was reached. The financial assistance required by Franco was exorbitant. Franco’s affinity with the Axis powers manifested in sending the Blue Division to fight communism. Only since 1942, with the change of sign of the war, did the government’s attitude begin to turn towards a neutral policy. It ordered the withdrawal of the Blue Division. Relations with Portugal were strengthened with the “Bloque Ibérico” pact signed by Franco and Salazar.

After the end of World War II, the Allies agreed that there was no place in the international community for a government of Franco’s fascist nature. A policy of isolation began that the new foreign minister, Martín Artajo, could not contain. The international isolation began in 1946. Spain was expelled from all international agencies, and the ambassadors departed from Madrid. It only had the moral support of Oliveira Salazar’s Portugal and the help of Argentina’s dictator, Juan Perón.

Since 1947, the picture began to clear. The change was prompted by the onset of the Cold War, which pitted the United States against the USSR. The geostrategic position of the Iberian Peninsula and the active anti-communist nature of the Franco regime led to U.S. support. A concordat with the Vatican was signed, and, with the help of the U.S. and the Vatican, Franco’s Spain joined the United Nations in 1955.

Economic Issues

In economic matters, the real cause of economic chaos lay in the misguided policy of interventionism and autarky fully embraced by the Franco regime:

• In agriculture, through the National Wheat Service, wheat was requisitioned at fixed prices, and all its production, marketing, and consumption were controlled. The measure had a negative effect because farmers cut production and hid much of it, which was traded on the black market. The “black market” emerged. Hunger and poverty spread, and Social Aid became famous.
• The huge black market profits allowed a shift of capital from the primary sector to industry. State intervention was evident in industry through the creation in 1941 of the Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI). This facilitated the development of certain industries, such as steel, shipbuilding, and aviation. The INI developed its program when European countries abandoned autarkic procedures and initiated the liberalization of their economies. Spain, due to isolation and not benefiting from the Marshall Plan, remained attached to autarky.
• A key step was the creation of RENFE (National Network of Spanish Railways).

The autarkic and interventionist policy of the regime cannot be regarded as positive. The economy stagnated for a long time, and hunger and misery settled among the population for an extended period.

Economic Turn in the 1960s

With the advent of the 1960s, the economy of the Franco regime took a very important turn, thanks to the Marshall Plan. If the Spanish economy was to be integrated into the international economic agreement, it was necessary to break with autarky. The ministerial team of technocrats, including López Rodó, implemented measures to curb inflation and address imbalances. This is known as the Stabilization Plan of 1959. It succeeded in moderating prices, containing costs, and, at the same time, liberalization measures were taken. The success helped establish the basis for significant economic growth in Spain.

Since 1962, under the direction of López Rodó, development plans aimed at stimulating the Spanish economy were put into action. Three four-year plans were implemented. Several factors led to this major growth:

• Spanish development is explained within the economic splendor the Western world experienced in the “Prodigious Decade.”
• Spain became one of the major tourist destinations in Europe. This tourism boom meant a significant contribution of foreign exchange.
• Spanish emigration to other countries in Western Europe.
• Foreign capital invested heavily in the stock market.

Social Changes

Economic development resulted in changes, including:

• An increase in population. High increase in birth rates and declining mortality rates due to improved food and health conditions (Social Security was established in these years).
• The dominance of the city. These settlements included Madrid, Catalonia, and the Basque Country.
• A new social structure characterized by the predominance of the working class.

The social change was seen in the rise of the so-called “new middle classes,” consisting of clerks, salesmen, and technicians. The profound economic changes were not accompanied by corresponding political transformations. Unionism emerged outside the official channels, led by Comisiones Obreras (CCOO). Student agitation demanded democratic change, and awakened nationalism emerged, such as the terrorist group ETA.

Political Opposition

The most important gesture of political opposition was the “Conspiracy of Munich,” a congress of politicians of liberal affiliation in June 1962. José María Gil Robles urged Franco to take measures to democratize the country. Franco reacted strongly, suspending Article 14 of the Jurisdiction. Some congress attendees were banished. On January 19, 1967, the Organic Law of the State was enacted, a kind of constitution that provided for the existence of a head of government other than the head of state. Despite this shy progress, Franco continued to amass absolute power. In 1969, Franco decided to appoint Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor with the title of King.

Exile and Opposition

At the end of the Civil War, more than 350,000 Spaniards went into exile. They stayed in France, the Soviet Union, Mexico, and Argentina. In 1945, republican institutions were revived: Martínez Barrio was elected President of the Republic, and a government in exile headed by José Giral was formed. The monarchical sector rallied around the figure of Don Juan de Borbón, heir of King Alfonso XIII by right. The PSOE was badly battered after the Civil War and went into crisis. The Communist Party of Spain advocated armed opposition to Franco.

The End of the Regime

In 1973, Admiral Carrero Blanco was named prime minister but was assassinated by ETA. His death was a heavy blow to a regime based on an old man of eighty. He was succeeded by Arias Navarro, who began a tentative opening called the “Spring of Arias.”

In 1974, the Democratic Board was formed, supported by the Communist Party, and the Democratic Convergence Platform, supported by the PSOE. They wanted to stem a wave of terrorism with the Anti-Terrorist Act and severe repression. The situation became one of widespread protest, from the universities to the factories. While Franco was dying, he had to attend to the “Green March” and the handover of Spanish Sahara to Morocco.

Death of Franco and the Green March

On November 20, 1975, Franco died, and two days later, Don Juan Carlos I was crowned King of Spain. Also in November 1975, Hassan II, the new king of Morocco, used the situation of uncertainty in the Spanish government to demand his rights over Spanish Sahara. With the secret support of the United States, he organized a rally of hundreds of thousands of people, called the “Green March,” ready to cross the border between Morocco and Spanish Sahara. Spain ceded the administration of the territory to Morocco and Mauritania, regardless of the right to self-determination for the Sahrawi people, championed by the Polisario Front.

Conclusion

Franco ruled Spain in a dictatorship until his death, over a country that was recovering slowly until it experienced economic development in the 1960s. Without altering its authoritarian nature, the regime tried to adapt to international developments to gain recognition from other nations and its own internal stability. During the so-called “economic miracle,” popular mobilization grew, demanding freedoms, while the regime offered no other response than the tightening of its repressive policies. The Franco regime was crumbling as the life of its founder was exhausted. This led to the Spanish transition, which involved the arrival of freedom, the recognition of pluralism, and peaceful coexistence as fundamental values. This regime change was gradual, non-violent, and based on the agreement of the main political forces.