Key Terms of Francoist Spain: Understanding the Era

Key Terms of Francoist Spain

Understanding the vocabulary of Francoist Spain is essential for grasping the complexities of this historical period. Here are some key terms:

The Blue Division

Spanish military union volunteers who fought on the Russian front during World War II, between 1941 and 1944.

The National Institute of Industry

Established in the postwar period to promote industrial development.

Ration Cards

Cards that were distributed among the population to buy staples.

Black Market

Speculators were selling products illegally at excessively high prices, often double or triple the official market price.

Opus Dei

An institution of the Catholic Church founded by José María Escrivá in 1941. It consists of religious and secular members, and its main mission is to spread the beliefs of Catholicism and guide the lives of its members to holiness.

Technocrats

Ministers linked to Opus Dei, who provided technical and modernization criteria, given its interest in moving away from what was most identified with fascism and promoting economic openness.

Stabilization Plan

The objective was to replace a closed economy with strong state control with an economy linked to international circuits and greater weight of the private sector.

Development Plan

Sought to foster industrial development and reduce imbalances between the different Spanish regions.

Social Security

A collective security system that protects workers from the risks of unemployment, sickness, invalidity, old age, and death. The system is financed by contributions from workers, employers, and the state.

Censorship

The control exercised by political and religious institutions on any art or publication of books and magazines to approve or deny its application or publication.

Maquis

Armed resistance in the form of guerrillas, who were against Franco in the 1940s.

Green March Sahara Conflict

Spain opted for decolonization, but the King of Morocco, Hassan II, in 1975 organized a peaceful invasion of the territory.

Democracy

A system in which executive power is held by governments accountable to a parliament elected by universal suffrage. It is organized around political parties that operate freely and are altered in power as the result of elections.

Moncloa Pacts

Agreements signed by the political parties and trade unions. Its aim was to modernize the Spanish economy by increasing public investment; fiscal reform was necessary to augment revenue.

Motion of Censorship

A procedure in which the parliament (legislature) may require political responsibility from the executive and force the replacement of its chairman.

Real Power

The work that is carried out outside the formal channels, i.e., does not necessarily coincide with the state apparatus, and served on its ability to influence political pressure. Examples of real power may be the banking, business, and church sectors.

Ajuria Enea Pact

Agreements with all political forces to isolate the violent (1988).

Dirty War

An expression that indicates situations of military intervention against civilians. Was used in Spain to describe the illegal actions of the police through the GAL against ETA between 1986 and 1987.