Franco’s Spain: Building a Dictatorship (1939-1959)

Franco’s Spain: Building a Dictatorship (1939-1959)

1. Characteristics of Francoism

Warlordism

Franco held extreme power as head of state, prime minister, Generalissimo of the armies, and national party chief. His rule was characterized by extreme authoritarianism and anti-democratic practices.

Totalitarianism

Modeled on Italian and German fascism, Franco’s dictatorship abolished the 1931 Constitution, banned political parties and unions, and allowed only a single party and union.

Repression and Control

Ongoing and planned crackdowns were enforced. Media control through censorship and propaganda was prevalent. The military, the single party, and the Catholic Church were the foundations of the regime.

The Traditionalist Spanish Falange and the National Syndicalist Offensive Boards (JONS) formed four mass organizations: the Youth Front, the Women’s Section, the Spanish University Union (SEU), and the National Trade Union Confederation (CNS).

The state was defined as Catholic, granting the Church generous public funding, control over the education system, and the prevalence of Catholic moral values in Spanish society.

Social Supports

Economic and social elites regained power lost during the Second Republic. Small and medium landowners in Northern Spain, who had supported the uprising, also benefited. The middle classes remained largely passive.

2. Instruments of Repression

Beyond the Civil War, the desire to eliminate perceived enemies led to the institutionalization of repression through coercive laws like the Law of Political Responsibilities and the Law of Suppression of Communism and Freemasonry.

Until 1963, the army was the main arm of repression. Afterward, the Court of Public Order (TOP), a special court for political crimes, was created.

The Purge

A purge of officials and workers in the public sector was carried out, with similar actions encouraged in the private sector.

Nationalist Repression

Franco’s victory led to specific repression in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, where nationalism was seen as a threat to Spanish unity. Non-Castilian languages and cultural expressions were suppressed.

3. Organization of the State

Power was concentrated in Franco. Fundamental laws replaced a nonexistent constitution:

• 1938: Labour Law, Law of Trade Union Unity
• 1940: Law of Trade Union Unity
• 1942: Constitutive Act of the Parliament
• 1945: Jurisdiction of the Spanish, National Referendum Act
• 1947: Succession Act (allowing Franco to appoint his successor)
• 1958: Principles of the Movement Act
• 1966: National State Law (introducing changes to the political system and courts)

Organic Democracy

Inspired by the Italian corporatist state, popular participation was organized through the family, the municipality, and the union.

Vertical unions were another instrument of state power, controlling working conditions, wages, and outlawing strikes. This resulted in low wages for workers and significant benefits for businesses.

Provinces had Captaincy General, provincial governors, and chiefs of the Movement. Municipalities had mayors who were also local chiefs of the Movement.

4. Economic Autarky

The regime aimed for economic self-sufficiency (autarky) through isolationist policies, restricting foreign trade, and promoting industrial development in strategic sectors (creation of INI).

The state regulated agricultural production, marketing, pricing, and consumption, resulting in low official prices and lower production.

Market Control and the Black Market

The autarkic economy entailed state control of markets. Farmers were forced to surrender their production at fixed prices, while consumer products were sold at regulated prices. The low food prices led many producers to sell on the black market for higher profits.

5. Opposition to Franco

Path in Exile

At the end of the Civil War, around 400,000 Republicans fled to France. About 200,000 remained in exile until after Franco’s death.

Reconstruction of Parties and Unions (1944-1947)

Opposition parties and unions began to reconstruct.

Restructuring of the Opposition (1948-1951)

Demoralization due to the consolidation of Franco’s dictatorship led to a restructuring of the opposition movement.

In the late 1940s, a revival of popular protest began.