The Foundations of Francoism: Ideology and Institutions
Ideological Foundations of Francoism
The new system introduced in 1939 was based from the outset on very clear ideological foundations:
- Concentration of Political Power in Franco. The “unwavering commitment” to the Leader was the key element of the whole political edifice of Francoism.
- Anticommunism. Directed against the so-called ‘Red Menace,’ ranging from the extreme left to the bourgeois democratic revolution.
- National Catholicism (Nacionalcatolicismo). The Church had baptized the military uprising against the Republic as a crusade. In exchange, it dominated social life and education. A strict Catholic morality, both public and private, was imposed on the country.
- Traditionalism. Rooted partly in the ideas adopted by the Carlists, but mostly in military values that put the unity of the homeland as a sacrosanct value.
- Militarization of Civilian Life. This was a constant feature of the regime.
The Political System and Families of the Regime
The dictatorship’s political system was based on a strict ban on political parties, coupled with a brutal crackdown on those who had supported the Republic. In 1937, the single party was established, which came to be known as the National Movement.
Franco selected his personnel from different ideological groups that formed the “families” of the regime:
- Phalangists: Falangists were integrated into the single party under the absolute leadership of Franco. Their main function was to control the social and economic life of the country through various institutions of the regime.
- Military: The military held prestige and political power but were completely subordinate to Franco. Some of the dictator’s most important collaborators, such as Carrero Blanco, were military men.
- Catholics: Many cadres and leaders of the dictatorship came from religious institutions such as Opus Dei. After Vatican II, there was a rift between the dictatorship and the Church.
- Monarchists: After the end of the war, the Carlists played a secondary role, disappearing as a politically relevant force. Although Franco refused to relinquish the head of state to Don Juan de Borbón, many monarchists collaborated with the dictatorship, especially in the early years of the regime.
In practice, all these families played a secondary role. Franco always prevented anyone from becoming too powerful and sought a balance to ensure his absolute power.
Institutional Transformations
On May 19, 1939, Franco celebrated the victory and awarded himself the Laureate Cross of San Fernando. The next day, he surrendered his sword to Cardinal Fernando Cardenal, in a gesture of alliance with the Church.
The first decrees signed by Franco broadened his power:
- The Statutes of the Falange granted the Chair of the Policy Board to his brother-in-law, Ramón Serrano Suñer, while the General Secretariat remained under the dictator’s authority.
- The central state administration was amended by the decree of August 8: it fixed the ministries, removed the Vice President from the Government, and authorized the Head of State to adopt legislative decrees without prior deliberation of the Government.
In the absence of a constitution, the dictatorship progressively institutionalized the Franco regime by enacting the following Organic Laws: