Early Francoist Spain: From Isolation to Stabilization

The Early Franco Era: 1939 to 1951

The first stage of the Franco regime is divided into two distinct periods: the years before the protests of 1951 and the years after.

The Influence of Serrano Suñer (1938-1942)

Between 1938 and 1942, Ramón Serrano Suñer served as the Minister of the Interior in the first government. His primary role was to design the fascist state.

The FET y de las JONS was the only formal political party, providing coverage for the government and other agencies, though it never became a true mass movement.

Composition of the Regime

The government was a combination of various factions:

• Ministers from different sectors of the regime, specifically Falangists and the military.
• A Catholic minority represented by the ACNP and Opus Dei.

Foreign Policy During World War II

Spain's international outreach during WWII was initially non-belligerent, providing support for Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, who had been allies during the Civil War. While not officially entering the conflict, Spain supplied raw materials and assisted the invasion of the Soviet Union with the Blue Division. Additionally, the regime allowed German bombers to target Gibraltar.

Spain agreed to enter the war in November 1940 following the meeting between Franco and Hitler at Hendaye, France, in October. However, after the Axis defeat in 1942, Serrano Suñer was removed from the government, leading to a loss of fascist political weight within the regime and a shift toward a more neutral stance.

The Ascent of National-Catholicism

By 1945, Catholic influence in politics increased significantly. Alberto Martín Artajo, a prominent Catholic figure, served as Foreign Minister from 1945 to 1957. His goal was to win over the victorious Allies and improve international public opinion.

During this time, Luis Carrero Blanco, a former military aide very close to Franco, began to gain importance. The Falange was sidelined, though they retained control of the Ministry of Labor and the unions. This shift provided the state with a legal framework that equipped it with legitimacy and a European appearance.

Key Legal Frameworks

• The 1938 Labor Law
• The Constitutive Act of the Cortes (1942)
• The 1945 National Referendum Law
• The Spanish Bill of Rights (1945)
• The Law of Succession to the Head of State (1947)

International Ostracism and the Cold War

After 1945, the regime entered a stage of international ostracism. The UN condemned the regime, leading ambassadors to leave the country and resulting in a diplomatic and economic blockade. Franco described this as an "anti-Spanish" policy, which led to a massive concentration of support for the leader on December 9, 1946, in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente.

With the onset of the Cold War, the regime's anti-communist stance brought it closer to the United States, which eventually replaced its ambassador in 1950.

Economic Autarky and the 1951 Protests

In economics, the regime sought self-sufficiency (autarky) through heavy state intervention. However, the lack of products led to protests in 1951, which necessitated political and economic changes.

Consolidation of the Regime: 1951-1959

• This period was dedicated to resolving the problems caused by the 1951 protests.
• Isolationist and autarkic economic policies were gradually removed.
• The 1959 Stabilization Plan was initiated.
• U.S. President Eisenhower visited Spain in 1959.

Political Changes and Technocracy

Following the 1956 university protests, a new government change occurred in 1957. Laureano López Rodó, a technocrat associated with Opus Dei, designed the 1959 Stabilization Plan to foster economic growth in the 1960s.

Carrero Blanco managed the monarchical lobby, moving against the Falangists and military factions in 1957. Economic liberalization increased, and the regime was further institutionalized through the 1958 Law of Principles of the National Movement. This law defined Spain as a traditional, Catholic, and representative social monarchy.