The Cold War and the Franco Dictatorship: 1939-1990
The Cold War (1945-1990)
The Creation of the United Nations (1945)
The United Nations was established in October 1945 as a worldwide organization to act as an arbiter of international disputes. Signed in San Francisco by 50 countries, its headquarters were established in New York City. Its primary goals include maintaining peace, collective security, promoting economic progress, and defending human rights.
A Bipolar World
The Cold War was defined by an underlying conflict between the USA and the USSR, lasting from 1945 to 1992. While no direct war occurred between the superpowers, they engaged in proxy conflicts across the Third World. The world was divided into two blocs:
- Western Bloc: Led by the USA, characterized by capitalist and democratic systems.
- Communist Bloc: Led by the USSR, characterized by communist political systems.
Ideological and Military Alliances
The Truman Doctrine (1947) offered economic aid to countries threatened by communism. This led to the formation of two major military alliances:
- NATO (1949): Led by the USA to protect Western democracies.
- Warsaw Pact (1955): Founded by the USSR and Eastern European nations.
Economic Policies
- Marshall Plan: US economic assistance for the reconstruction of Western Europe.
- COMECON (1949): Soviet-led economic cooperation for Eastern bloc states.
Key Conflicts and Developments
The era was marked by extreme tension, including the Greek Civil War, the Berlin Blockade, and the Korean War. The Deterrence theory prevented direct conflict due to the threat of nuclear destruction. The period of Detente (1956-1976) saw attempts at peaceful coexistence, though crises like the Suez Canal, the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War tested these relations.
The End of the Cold War
Tensions peaked in the late 1970s, but the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 brought reforms: Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness). By December 1989, the Cold War effectively ended.
The Franco Dictatorship (1939–1975)
Post-War Period (1939-1959)
Francisco Franco established a military dictatorship that abolished democratic freedoms, the 1931 Constitution, and regional statutes. The regime relied on severe repression, including forced labor and executions. During WWII, Spain maintained a policy of non-belligerence while supporting the Axis powers through the Division Azul.
Economic Autarchy
Post-Civil War Spain suffered from extreme shortages and economic isolation. The state implemented Autarchy, a policy of self-sufficiency and strict state intervention, which led to economic stagnation.
Development and Crisis (1959–1975)
Spain eventually sought international integration, joining the UN in 1955. The Stabilization Plan (1959) and subsequent Development Plans shifted the economy toward industrialization and tourism. Despite economic growth, social unrest increased in the 1960s and 70s, fueled by:
- Underground opposition (PCE, PSOE, CCOO).
- Increased strikes and political violence (ETA, FRAP, GRAPO).
- The 1973 Oil Crisis.
The dictatorship entered a terminal crisis following the assassination of Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco and ended upon Franco’s death on November 20, 1975.