Authoritarian Regimes: Political and Social Transformations in Spain and China

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Written on May 31, 2025 in English with a size of 4.64 KB

Political Repercussions: Spain and China

The 1951 Three-Anti Campaign and the 1952 Five-Anti Campaign continued the terror.
These campaigns targeted those who believed in private property, labeling them as "class enemies" according to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
These killings were referred to as the "neoplasm classified," implying they were seen as a cancerous growth to be eradicated.
Approximately 90% of the 15 million landlords died during this period.

The regime was built on three pillars: the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista (FET), the Church, and the Army.
In early cabinets, generals constituted 50% of the ministerial positions.
The Falange's influence was significant, as seen in its anthem.
After World War II, there was a de-emphasis on fascism and the Falange.
The Church held a monopoly, solidified by the Concordat of 1951.
The regime was paternalistic towards women.
Basque and Catalan languages and autonomy were suppressed, promoting centralization.
Martin Blinkhorn described Franco as fascist, exhibiting antagonism towards democracy.
The regime featured a cult of personality, autarky (with a 10-year plan), and a single-party state.
George Orwell, however, argued it was not fascist but rather sought to restore feudalism.

China became a single-party state under the CCP.
Small CCP committees (cadres) were established across China, numbering over 1 million in the 1950s.
All other political organizations were banned.
In October 1950, campaigns against opponents began.
Order Keeping Committees were established to monitor people's behavior.
In Shandong province alone, these measures led to 28,000 deaths.
The CCP oversaw the reunification of China, including regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet.

Women experienced greater freedom, exemplified by Catalonia's marriage law, making it the first European country to have a female minister (Federica Montseny).
Influential women included Dolores Ibárruri and Milicianas (female militia members) such as Lina Odéna.
A 1938 decree banned women's participation in combat roles.
Women working in industries often confronted male employers holding traditional mindsets.

The regime promoted traditional roles for women, heavily influenced by the Church.
Women took on female-specific jobs during the war.
The Labor Charter (1938) aimed to "liberate" married women from paid factory work, which could be analyzed as a reduction of rights.
The Ruling Defense Council banned divorce, mixed-gender classrooms, and civil marriage.
Education focused on motherhood and domestic work.
Franco extended these policies throughout his rule.

The 1930 Civil Code required women's consent for marriage and granted them equal rights to inheritance.
The 1913 Labor Law stipulated that women should be paid the same as men.
By 1935, 6,000 colleges admitted women.
However, these legal changes often meant little practical change, especially in rural areas.

The CCP theoretically accepted gender equality, rooted in Marxist ideology.
Mao Zedong famously declared that "women hold up half the sky."
Foot-binding was prohibited.
Women were encouraged to participate in CCP committees.
Arranged marriages were discouraged.
Women were encouraged to participate in the war, exemplified by the "Special Company of the Second Division of the Red Army" (composed entirely of women).
The Marriage Law of 1950 abolished arranged marriages, allowed divorce, granted equal inheritance rights, abolished child marriage, and expected women to work the same as men.
However, many women sought divorce, and CCP officials began to refuse permissions, indicating a gap between policy and practice.

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