Spain’s Socioeconomic Transformation in the 1960s
Change of Mentality in the Second Franco Era
This analysis examines a passage by W.L. Bernecker in the book “Spain in Exchange,” published in Madrid in 2009. The text discusses the second stage of Franco’s rule (1959-1975), focusing on the shift in Spanish mentality during the 1960s, particularly regarding migration and education.
Economic Development and the Baby Boom
The 1960s in Spain witnessed a significant baby boom, coinciding with economic development. This growth was supported by government aid, including increased wages, healthcare, and free education, financed by the Basic Law of Social Security. Earlier, in the post-civil war period (1945-1950), Franco had implemented birth grants to offset population losses. The decline in infant mortality and sustained high birth rates further contributed to population growth in the 1960s.
Unemployment and Migration
Despite economic progress, unemployment rose due to the stabilization plan, which limited public spending, reduced credit, and froze wages. The mechanization of agriculture forced many farmers to migrate to urban centers (Basque Country, Catalonia, etc.). Unable to find work, many Spaniards emigrated to countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium, accepting jobs often rejected by locals. This migration, while mitigating unemployment, represented a human tragedy that lasted until the 1970s global crisis triggered by rising oil prices.
Education and Social Change
Education played a crucial role in transforming Spanish society. The Law of General Education (LOGE) made education compulsory until age 14, leading to the expansion of secondary education (BUP and FP) and an increase in the school population. Illiteracy rates dropped from 19% to 9%, and the number of high school students increased sevenfold. University enrollment also surged from 65,000 to 400,000. This period saw increasing student radicalization, with Trotskyist and Maoist ideologies gaining traction and demonstrations demanding better social and working conditions. The state’s role in public education expanded as the traditional role of the Church in middle and upper-class education diminished.
Consumerism and Europeanization
Economic development fueled the growth of primary and secondary sectors, expanding the bureaucracy, civil service, and middle class. A rising standard of living led to increased consumerism (appliances, cars, etc.) and the emergence of summer vacations. Europeanization fostered a more liberal, democratic, and tolerant mentality, influenced by migration, education, tourism, and the media. A process of secularization also took hold, with a shift away from traditional values.
Political Tensions and Opposition
This era was marked by political divisions and confrontations between those favoring openness and the hardliners (“bunker”). Corruption scandals, such as Matesa, emerged. Opposition grew from workers (CCOO, PCE) and university students (Trotskyists and Maoists), who organized strikes and demonstrations demanding better labor and socio-political conditions. The Munich Platform (1962), a meeting of opposition parties (excluding communists), called for democracy in Spain and opposed its entry into the European Economic Union without democratic reforms. Basque nationalism gained momentum with the emergence of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) in 1959, a terrorist group advocating for Basque independence. The Church, influenced by the Second Vatican Council initiated by Pope John XXIII, distanced itself from Franco, advocating for democratization and closer ties with the people. This movement was supported in Spain by Basque bishops, workers, priests, and figures like Cardinal Tarancón, the Bishop of Madrid.
Repression and Discontent
The state responded to the labor movement and leftist activism with repression. Courts were suspended, the Public Order Court (TOP) was established, universities were closely monitored, and activists faced imprisonment and execution, including Julián Grimau, a leader of the Communist Party. A climate of discontent and disillusionment pervaded the nation.