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The European Rescue of the Franco Regime, 1950-1975
The European Rescue of the Franco Regime, 1950-1975 explores how the governments of the founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community, acting collectively via the European Communities, assisted in the consolidation of the Franco regime. It explains how the Six (the Nine after 1972) implemented a set of policy measures that facilitated the subsistence of the Franco regime, proving that trade with the Six improved Spain's overall economic performance, which in turn secured Franco's rule.
The Six provided the Spanish economy with a stable supply of essential raw materials and capital goods and with outlet markets for the country's main export commodities. Through these mechanisms the European Communities assisted Spanish economic development and supported the stabilization of the non-democratic political regime ruling Spain. The Franco regime was never threatened by European integration and the Six/Nine managed to isolate meaningful Community negotiations with Spain from mounting political disturbance. The European Rescue of the Franco Regime, 1950-1975 shows that without unremitting material assistance from Western Europe, it would have been considerably more challenging for the Franco regime to attain the stability that enabled the dictator to maintain his rule until he died peacefully at 82 years old.
The Six provided the Spanish economy with a stable supply of essential raw materials and capital goods and with outlet markets for the country's main export commodities. Through these mechanisms the European Communities assisted Spanish economic development and supported the stabilization of the non-democratic political regime ruling Spain. The Franco regime was never threatened by European integration and the Six/Nine managed to isolate meaningful Community negotiations with Spain from mounting political disturbance. The European Rescue of the Franco Regime, 1950-1975 shows that without unremitting material assistance from Western Europe, it would have been considerably more challenging for the Franco regime to attain the stability that enabled the dictator to maintain his rule until he died peacefully at 82 years old.
- GenresHistory
496 pages, Hardcover
Published March 28, 2021
8 people want to read
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May 28, 2024
As my “currently reading” list grew to almost 20 books, I realised I needed to go back and finish those books that I’d started, enjoyed enough not to shelve entirely, but never finished. For the large part, these books are important, but difficult to read (even for someone who mostly reads academic non-fiction). This book fits squarely in that category. At almost 500 pages long, it’s not a quick read and considerable repetition further adds to the slog. *However*, this is a really important, very well researched and insightful text on an underdiscussed issue: the European liberal institutional stabilisation, support and legitimisation of Francoism (and neo-fascism more broadly) after 1945.
This text provides further input and perspective into discussions on the role of fascists and their sympathisers during the period (see other writings on, e.g., the Nazi influence in the development of NATO or in the West German government; the coordinated immigration of fascists into Australia; etc), as well as a deeper analysis of Western support for the destruction of republicanism and socialism in Spain itself. From the blockade during the Spanish Civil War, through the delivery of military and other aid by the UK and US, to the *enormous* lengths the EEC went to to prop up Spanish industry despite (a) the clear “incompatibility” of the Francoist political system with the liberalising ideals of the nascent EU, and (b) the negative consequences on both internal and external trade in similar industries for other EEC nations.
When read within the larger context of 20th Century history, this text provides some vital foundational understandings as to why Western institutions did so much to ensure the stability of an anti-communist, Western-orientated and (violently) pacified Spain. As much as the Franco regime was propped up by its international institutional allies (despite their liberal pretences) during the period discussed in this text, the pre- and post-Franco eras, too, were greatly influenced by the disdain of the international community for the will of the Spanish people.
This text provides further input and perspective into discussions on the role of fascists and their sympathisers during the period (see other writings on, e.g., the Nazi influence in the development of NATO or in the West German government; the coordinated immigration of fascists into Australia; etc), as well as a deeper analysis of Western support for the destruction of republicanism and socialism in Spain itself. From the blockade during the Spanish Civil War, through the delivery of military and other aid by the UK and US, to the *enormous* lengths the EEC went to to prop up Spanish industry despite (a) the clear “incompatibility” of the Francoist political system with the liberalising ideals of the nascent EU, and (b) the negative consequences on both internal and external trade in similar industries for other EEC nations.
When read within the larger context of 20th Century history, this text provides some vital foundational understandings as to why Western institutions did so much to ensure the stability of an anti-communist, Western-orientated and (violently) pacified Spain. As much as the Franco regime was propped up by its international institutional allies (despite their liberal pretences) during the period discussed in this text, the pre- and post-Franco eras, too, were greatly influenced by the disdain of the international community for the will of the Spanish people.
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