Spain Under Franco: From Stabilization to Crisis (1950s-1970s)
Spain Under Franco (1950s-1970s)
1. Evolution of Policy and Socio-Economic Development
A) Political Developments
The New Leaders
In the 1960s, with the Falangists’ influence waning, key figures emerged:
- Technocrats: Reformers like Ullastres and López Bravo, with Laureano López Rodó being prominent.
- Reformists: Falangist-origin figures advocating liberalization, led by Manuel Fraga (Minister of Information and Tourism) and Jose Solis.
Legislation
Reforms aimed at aligning with Europe included:
- Law of Bases of Social Security, expanding healthcare.
- Court of Public Order, transferring political crime jurisdiction from military tribunals.
- Press Act (1966) by Manuel Fraga.
- Religious Freedom Act and Family Representation Law (1966).
- Organic Law of the State (1967), separating Head of State and Government.
- Law of Succession (1969), proclaiming Juan Carlos as Franco’s successor.
These laws, along with the Law of the National Movement and five preceding acts, formed the Fundamental Laws of Franco’s regime. Additional laws aimed to regulate state bureaucracy and democratize trade unions.
In foreign policy, the US supported Spain’s admission to international organizations, including the UN in 1955. The end of the Moroccan Protectorate and the 1953 Concordat with the Holy See further legitimized the regime.
Triumph of Immobility
Disagreements arose within the regime in the late 1960s, particularly between technocrats (Carrero Blanco) and reformists (Fraga Iribarne), triggered by the Matesa scandal. The technocrats retained power until Carrero Blanco’s assassination by ETA in 1973. The Burgos court-martial (1970) of ETA members, with demands for death sentences, sparked international protests.
Final Crisis of the Regime
Carrero Blanco’s assassination marked a turning point. Carlos Arias Navarro’s government (1974) proposed limited reforms, including political pluralism. However, repression continued with a new Terrorism Bill in 1975. The Sahara conflict added to the regime’s woes. Franco’s death in 1975 left Spain in crisis.
B) Social Development: The New Society
Mechanization of agriculture in the 1960s increased production but led to rural exodus and emigration to Western Europe. Industrial growth created a new working class, alongside the emergence of new middle classes, coexisting with the conservative old middle class. The 1970 Education Act reflected significant changes in education and culture.
C) Economic Development
Stabilization Measures and Plans
From the late 1950s, Spain experienced rapid economic growth, joining the industrialized nations. The Stabilization Plan (1959) marked the end of autarky, with measures like reduced public spending, tax increases, wage freezes, peseta devaluation, and foreign capital influx. This led to strong growth, though unevenly distributed across regions. Economic and Social Development Plans aimed to address these inequalities by promoting industrialization in poorer areas.
Final Stage of Spanish Industrialization
From 1959 to 1973, industry and services became central to the Spanish economy, with rising per capita income and private consumption. However, technological improvements led to limited job creation, necessitating emigration. Agriculture declined, with the agricultural population nearly halving between 1960 and 1975. External dependence played a crucial role in growth, but price increases became a concern in the early 1970s.
2. Political Opposition to the Regime
Opposition grew in the 1960s, aiming to end Franco’s rule. The 1962 Munich meeting brought together moderate opposition figures. The Church, initially supportive of the regime, began to act as a critical voice after Vatican II. Strikes led to the formation of the CCOO trade union. As Franco’s death approached, opposition groups sought unity. The Assembly of Catalonia (1971) united Catalan opposition sectors. The Democratic Junta (1974), linked to the PCE, and the Democratic Convergence Platform (1975), driven by the PSOE, emerged as national opposition bodies.
3. Castilla La Mancha During the Franco Dictatorship
Castilla La Mancha, initially in the Republican zone, suffered severe repression after the Civil War. The Directorate General of Devastated Regions rebuilt some villages. Massive emigration between 1941 and 1975 led to depopulation and an aging population. The region’s agrarian economy saw the development of new settlements and land consolidation. Waterworks, including reservoirs and the Tajo-Segura canal, were undertaken. Industrial development was limited, with state initiatives like the Empresa Nacional Calvo Sotelo in Puertollano. The 1959 Stabilization Plan had positive effects, and Development and Promotion Plans aimed to boost industrialization. Nuclear energy production began in Guadalajara in 1968, leading to the Trillo nuclear power plant (operational after Franco’s death).