Franco as a Fascist

Marisa Phillips

Arguments for Franco as a Fascist

Ultimately, Franco's dictatorial leadership was the primary source for Spanish post-war policy and its potential to be categorized as fascist. An examination of Franco's life reveals him as an intensely religious, patriotic person very much prone to nationalism. He was driven to join the military by his family as well as these ideals, and the latter of these also influenced him to choose the side of the Nationalists during the coup that led to the Spanish Civil War. Franco shared a good deal of ideals with those of fascism, but avoided a good many others. For instance, he had nationalistic tendencies, forced participation in his style of government by suppressing opposition as well as the Falange; his main supporting political party modeled itself as a Fascist movement.

In 1937 Franco merged the political group, the Falange with a variety of other political groups. The group was made up of the Falange, CEDA, the Alfonsists and the Carlists. Originally the Falange was a fascist group that was officially anti-clerical and anti-monarchist yet it had financial assistance from the Alfonsist monarchists. He also led the Nationalist Movement which responded to a doctrine of corporatism in which only natural entities could express themselves: families, municipalities and unions.

The National Movement became the only legal political entity in Spain during the remainder of Franco’s rule until his death in 1975. The Falange had a major influence in the movement at its inception but its leaders were gradually reduced to a mere token presence and then almost thoroughly eliminated by the time of Franco’s death. By suppressing the other political groups that made up the government, Franco was able to maintain a nationalistic regime until his death. All the constituent groups of Franco's "National Movement" maintained their identity, however, but unreservedly supported the slogans of España Una, Grande y Libre (One...