Francoist Spain: Dictatorship, Autarky and Social Change (1939–1975)

1. The Evolution of Francoism Between 1939 and 1959

The legal foundations of the State were established. There was harsh repression and the country was isolated. Between 1959 and 1975, opposition to the dictatorship grew and the regime entered a progressive crisis. Autarky was abandoned in the late 1950s.

1.2 Foundations of the Regime

Fascism: The power was held by Franco himself. Political parties were banned and replaced by a unique organisation, the National Movement. Fascist external manifestations were adopted, such as the Yoke and Arrows symbol and the salute.

National Catholicism: Consisted of a close relationship between the State and the Church.

Spanish Traditionalism: Took the times of the Catholic Monarchs as a reference. It considered subsequent history, marked by the adoption of ideas from the Enlightenment, a deviation.

Political support: The main political support was the Falange.

Social support: Initially consisted of landowners. Later improvements in the economic situation favoured the middle class and non-political workers.

1.3 Cultural Control

In the postwar period, many writers, scientists and artists went into exile.

• Poetry: Blas de Otero
• Novel: Camilo José Cela, Miguel Delibes and Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio
• Science: Severo Ochoa

1.4 Architecture

Postwar period buildings took the style of the Habsburg era as a model. The most emblematic work is the Valley of the Fallen (1960 onwards). Other buildings adopted the International Style of geometric forms.

1.5 Sculpture and Painting

In 1960, Picasso and Miró spread their influence. In sculpture, nationalist and Franco statues were made. The dominant painting styles were landscapes, represented by Benjamín Palencia and Ortega Muñoz, and paintings of farm workers.

2. Totalitarian Political System (1939–1945)

Totalitarian political system: From 1939 to 1942, Franco imposed a totalitarian system. He concentrated the leadership of the State and the government, assuming command of the army. The regime was regulated through the fundamental laws. The first was the Labour Charter (1938), whereby workers and employers were forced to group themselves together by sector. Repression was reflected in the approval of the Law of Political Responsibilities (1939).

2.2 Simulation of Democracy (1942)

The institution only had an advisory role, limited to approving the laws dictated by Franco. From 1945 onwards, after the end of WW2, new laws were approved:

• The Charter of the Spanish (1945): a type of declaration of duties and rights that were not fulfilled in practice.
• National Referendum Law: allowed consultations to be held on some laws.
• Law of Succession: turned Spain into a kingdom but allowed Franco to govern until his death.

3. Repression and Opposition

3.1 Political Repression

Franco repressed the enemies of the regime. Many people had to go into exile, others were executed, jailed and tortured.

3.2 Domestic Opposition

Until 1959, the main opposition was represented by the Maquis. From 1960 to 1974, opposition to Franco grew, led by political groups, Workers' Commissions and the General Union of Workers.

3.3 Opposition Outside Spain

Republicans in exile restored the republican institutions. The monarchists were headed by Juan de Borbón. The 1945 Lausanne Manifesto was written by him and denounced the totalitarianism of Franco. After 1960, the Munich Conspiracy was a meeting of opposition groups.

4. International Relations and Decolonisation

4.1 Evolution of International Relations

During WW2: Spain was neutral, but Franco had an affinity with the Axis powers. For that reason, Spain was excluded from entering the UN in 1946. During the Cold War: Spain signed a concordat with the Holy See.

4.2 Decolonisation of Africa

It granted the independence of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea.

5. The Autarky Era and State Intervention

Autarky era: Economic autarky involved state interventionism in all economic sectors. The National Wheat Service controlled the price and production of wheat. The National Institute of Industry was created, which led to SEAT, Iberia, ENSIDESA.

5.2 Consequences of Autarky

Economic stagnation was due to the Law of Agrarian Productivity and the shortage of basic products like bread. Ration cards were introduced, which caused prices to rise.

6. Population and Society

6.1 Population Growth

It was slow in the post-war period, due to the exile of thousands of people, malnutrition and economic hardships.

Migrations: From 1950, there was the rural exodus, which took four million people from the agrarian areas of the interior of the peninsula to the industrial and tourist cities of the Basque Country and elsewhere.

6.2 Society and Its Transformation

Post-war era: Society was divided and economic inequalities increased. It was also a rural society.

Developmentalism era: Changed the social structure of Spain. Big agrarian landowners lost influence. The middle class grew considerably. An urban society was established.