The Franco Regime: Institutionalization and Decay
The Process of Institutionalization
Three Political Phases
The Franco dictatorship can be divided into three phases: the totalitarian phase (1939-1959), the technocratic phase (1959-1969), and the decomposition phase (1969-1975).
Totalitarian Phase (1939-1959)
This phase was characterized by economic decline, ideological repression, and political involution. The Second World War significantly impacted the regime’s internal politics. Spain initially declared neutrality, but with Germany’s early triumphs, it shifted to non-belligerency, barely concealing its support for the Axis powers. The Blue Division was sent to fight against the USSR on the Eastern Front. From 1942, Spain again proclaimed neutrality and gradually established contact with the Allied countries.
Two new institutions were established during this period: the Spanish Courts and the Cortes. The Courts were composed of solicitors, half appointed by Franco and half by high-ranking officials. These bodies did not control the government, and Franco retained the power to create and enforce laws, directly punishing dissenters. The Cortes lacked real power and served primarily as a symbolic assembly. Article 33 of the 1945 Bill of Rights, while declaring certain rights for Spaniards, was undermined by Article 35, which granted the regime the power to suspend these rights if deemed necessary to protect the “spiritual, social, and national unity of Spain.”
Internationally, the Franco regime faced isolation. The major powers viewed Spain as the last European bastion of fascism. In 1946, the newly formed United Nations (UN) refused to admit the Franco regime, and the French government closed its border with Spain. Following the UN’s recommendation, member countries withdrew their ambassadors from Spain. Franco presented this isolation to the Spanish public as an international conspiracy against Spain. He took measures like eliminating the raised-arm salute and promulgating the Law of Succession in 1947. This law declared Spain a kingdom, but Franco retained the power to appoint his successor. Two new institutions were created: the Council of Regency and the Council of the Kingdom. The law did not specify which dynasty would succeed Franco. In 1948, Prince Juan Carlos began his education in Spain under Franco’s tutelage.
The Cold War (1950-1959)
The escalating tension between the United States and the USSR gave the anti-communist Franco regime strategic importance, leading the U.S. to change its stance. In 1949, with the creation of NATO, U.S. banks granted loans to Spain. In 1950, the UN reversed its position on Spain’s diplomatic isolation. In 1952, Spain was admitted to UNESCO. The 1953 Pact of Madrid between Spain and the United States led to the establishment of U.S. military bases in Spain. A concordat was signed with the Vatican in 1953. In 1955, Spain became a full member of the UN. The official visit of the U.S. President to Spain in 1958 signaled Franco’s increasing international acceptance. The Law of Fundamental Principles of the National Movement, enacted in 1958, reaffirmed Falangist principles, declaring the family, the syndicate, and the municipality as the sole bases of political organization. These principles were deemed permanent and immutable.
Technocratic Phase (1959-1969)
This phase saw the inclusion of technocrats in the government and a period of accelerated modernization of the Spanish economy and society. The 1966 Press Law, promulgated by Minister Manuel Fraga, abolished censorship and introduced limited freedom of expression. The Law on Religious Freedom granted tolerance for private and public worship of other religions. The Organic Law of the State aimed to ensure the continuity of the regime after Franco’s death and separated the roles of Head of State and Head of Government. Franco designated Prince Juan Carlos as his successor and accepted him in a ceremony on July 23, 1969. With international isolation ending, Spain applied to join the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1962.
Decomposition Phase (1969-1975)
.** phase totalitarian: characterized by economic decline, and hardness of involution ideological repression .** Second World War: its evolution affects the internal politics of the regime frankista.españa declared itself neutral, but to the triumphs of Germany went from neutrality to non – belligerency, not hiding their sympathy by sending eje.franco powers to fight the Blue Division on the eastern front against URSS.a from 1942 again proclaimed neutral Spain and slowly began to establish contacts with countries aliados.la dictatorship will endow two new figures: the courts and the courts españoles.las of 424 cuts were made by solicitors, half appointed by the head of state and half by high near jerarkias franco.no controlled the government and France reserves the right to develop and leyes.era directly punish addicts a meeting of the Spanish courts franco.elNoles was a declaration of rights of Article 33 Decia q españoles.el none of these rights could be exploited to attack the spiritual, social and national of Spain, and in Article 35 were given powers to suspend .** regimen for the international isolation, the dictatorship Frankistan internacionalmente.las isolated kedo great powers saw Spain as the last European stronghold newly created fascismo.en 1946 (UN) did not accept the Franco regime q be part of it and the French government closed the border with españa.por recommendation from the UN, countries withdrew ambassadors mienbros españa.franco present this isolation to the Spanish public opinion as an international conju españa.tomo enemies of measures such as the elimination of the raised arm salute and the promulgation of the law of succession in Spain 1947.con this law is cnvertiria a kingdom, but the head of the state remained free in perpetuity, kien kedaba power to appoint his successor when he believed it created two new oportuno.tb institutions: the regency council and the council did not specify what reino.el dictator would be appointed to reinar.en dynasty succeeded q 1948 Prince Juan Carlos was educated in Spain under his wing .** The Cold War (1950-1959). The tension between the U.S. and the USSR took an important political value to anti-Spanish regime, which made the U.S. change its attitude toward the Franco dictatorship. In 1949, when NATO was created, U.S. banks made a loan to Spain, in 1950 the UN to annul the diplomatic isolation of the Spanish regime in 1952 Spain was admitted to Unesco .. In 1953 Spain and the United States signed the Pact of Madrid were created by the U.S. military bases in España.el Vatican concordato.en signed with Spain 1955 Spain was admitted in the UN as a full member derecho.la official visit of U.S. President to Spain was the external manifestation of the enhancement franco.en power tb 1958 law was enacted fundamental principles of the national movement, q in maintaining the validity of principles Falangists, for which the family, the union and the municipality were the only states sharing systems q politica.tb these were permanent and unchanging principles .** technocratic phase: it is included in the government tecnocratas.se experience an accelerated modernization of the economy and society españolas.en 1966 press law promulgated by the Minister Manuel fraga.esta law abolished censorship and established a timid freedom of expression. tb was promulgated law on religious freedom q tolerated the worship of other private and public religiones.se think the organic law of the state was called q q retaining the regime after the death of the dictator and separate the role of chief been with the chairman of gobierno.franco designate Prince Juan Carlos as his successor, and accept a court date July 23 to 1969.con international isolation normalized international relations and in 1962 directed the Spanish government EEC .** decomposition phase of the regime: franc deteriorabay devolve more power to Admiral Luis Carrero blanco.otros were descomposicon signs of this progressive alienation from the church and the mobilizing capacity of dictatorship is aggravated by oposicion.la ETA attacks and tb frap.la dictatorship fell due to ongoing tensions between politics aperturistas.la immobile and is exacerbated by the assassination of Carrero Blanco by eta.en the past todren from dictatorship Carlos Arias headed the government and its political action was characterized by hardening of the represion.en the 70 Western democracies regimen.en 1975 accepted the Arias Navarro government had executed a 5-military ETA and FRAP and there was a big protest GENERAL. frankismo the last days of isolation turned to the regime reacted and frank internacional.el gave his last speech at the attribute q alos protests traditional enemies of Spain.