Spanish History: Key Political and Military Terms

The International Brigades

The International Brigades were international volunteer corps that participated in the Spanish Civil War on the Republican side. Summoned to the struggle by the Comintern following a proposal by the French Communist Party, their mission was to help the Republic with volunteers from all countries—including communist and anti-fascist fighters—struggling for the sake of freedom. They were concentrated in Albacete, where they were uniformed and provided with minimal military training.

The Concordat and the Holy See

A Concordat is an international public law treaty between a State and the Holy See. Representatives of the Pope and the State may enter into agreements on ecclesiastical matters (such as the financing of education, the appointment of bishops, or marriage laws) or simply regularize diplomatic relationships. To enter into force, the agreement must be ratified by both signatories. These treaties have been traditional in Spain since the Middle Ages; in the contemporary period, they were signed in 1851, 1953, and 1979.

Organic Democracy in the Franco Regime

Organic Democracy was the political system of the Franco regime, which proposed the participation of citizens through the family, the vertical union, municipal councils, and other corporations. The term was a euphemism that, in practice, covered up the disappearance of the democratic system and the principle of national sovereignty.

The Generalitat: History and Evolution

The Generalitat (or Government) arose in the 14th century within the Crown of Aragon as the institution responsible for collecting taxes voted in the courts when they were not in session. Over time, it acquired a permanent character and increased its administrative and political authority. It was abolished by the Nueva Planta decrees between 1707 and 1716. In 1931, it was re-established in Catalonia during the Second Republic. Following the approval of the Statute of Catalonia in 1932, it was renamed the autonomous government, which included the parliament, the president, and the Executive Council. The Franco regime suppressed it again, only for it to resurface in 1977. It was eventually recognized by the Constitution of 1978, which regulates the Statutes of Autonomy throughout the state. The term is also applied to describe the government in Valencia today.