Falangism: Difference between revisions

'''Falangism''' ({{lang-es|falangismoFalangismo}}) was the political ideology of twothree political parties in [[Spain]] that were known as the Falange, namely first the [[Falange Española]], [[Falange Española de las JONS|Falange Española de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista]] (FE de las JONS) and afterwards the [[FET y de las JONS|Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista]] (FET y de las JONS).<ref name="Blamires">Cyprian P. Blamires (editor). ''World Fascism: A Historical Encyclopedia''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Pppp. 219-220219–220.</ref> Falangism has a disputed relationship with [[fascism]] as some historians consider the Falange to be a fascist movement based on its fascist leanings during the early years,<ref>Stanley G. Payne. ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin University Press, 1999. Pppp. 77-10277–102.</ref> while others focus on its transformation into an [[authoritarian conservative]] political movement in [[Francoist Spain]].<ref name="Blamires" /><ref>Martin Blinkhorn. ''[https://books.google.escom/books?id=i_jTBoeMvqsC&pg=PA10 Fascists and Conservatives: The Radical Right and the Establishment in Twentieth-Century Europe]''. Reprinted edition. Oxon, England, UK: Routledge, 1990, 2001. p. 10</ref>

The original Falangist party, FE de las JONS, merged with the [[Carlism|Carlists]] in 1937 following the [[Unification Decree (Spain, 1937)|Unification Decree]] of [[Francisco Franco]], to form FET y de las JONS. This new Falange was meant to incorporate all Nationalist political factions, and became the sole political party of [[Francoist Spain]].<ref name="Stanley G. Payne 1999. Ppp. 273">Stanley G. Payne. ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin University Press, 1999. Ppp. 273.</ref> The merger was opposed by some of the original Falangists, such as [[Manuel Hedilla]].

Falangism places a strong emphasis on the [[National Catholicism|Roman Catholic religious identity of Spain]],.<ref name="García-Fernández 2022">{{cite journal |author-last=García-Fernández |author-first=Mónica |date=February 2022 |title=From National Catholicism to Romantic Love: The Politics of Love and Divorce in Franco's Spain |journal=[[Contemporary European History]] |location=[[Cambridge]] and [[New York City|New York]] |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |volume=31 |issue=1, Special Issue: ''The Contemporary European History Prize'' |pages=2-142–14 |doi=10.1017/S0960777321000515 |doi-access=free |issn=1469-2171}}</ref> althoughHowever, it has held some secular views on the [[Catholic Church]]'s direct influence on Spanish society,<ref name="García-Fernández 2022"/> since one of the tenets of the Falangist ideology holds that [[Sovereignty|the state should have the supreme authority over the nation]].<ref name="StanleyPayne">Stanley Payne. ''A History of Fascism, 1914–1945''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: University of Wisconsin PresPress, 1995. Ppp. 261.</ref> Falangism emphasizes the need for [[Totalitarianism|total authority]], [[Social stratification|hierarchy]], and [[Social order|order]] in society.<ref name="StanleyPayne"/> Like fascism, Falangism is [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]], [[Anti-democratic thought|anti-democratic]], and [[Liberalism#Criticism and support|anti-liberal]].<ref>Ellwood, pp. 99–101.</ref><ref name="Wayne">Bowen, p. 152.</ref>

The Falange's original [[manifesto]], the "[[Twenty-Six Point Program of the Falange]]", declared Falangism to support the unity of Spain and the elimination of regional separatism, the establishment of a [[dictatorship]] led by the Falange, using [[political violence]] as a means to regenerate Spain, and promoting the revival and development of the [[Spanish Empire]], all attributes that it had in common with fascism. The manifesto also called for a [[National syndicalism|national syndicalist]] economy and advocated [[agrarian reform]]s, [[Industrialization|industrial expansion]], and respect for [[private property]] with the exception of nationalizing [[Credit (finance)|credit]] facilities to prevent [[usury]].<ref name="HansRogger">Hans Rogger, Eugen Weber.'' The European Right''. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, USA: University of California Press; London, England, UK: University of Cambridge Press, 1965. Ppp. 195.</ref>

The Spanish Falange and its affiliates in Hispanic states around the world promoted a form of [[panhispanism]] known as ''[[hispanidad]]'' that advocated both the cultural and economic union of Hispanic societies around the world.<ref name="Stein Ugelvik Larsen 2001. Ppp. 120">Stein Ugelvik Larsen (ed.). ''Fascism Outside of Europe''. New York, New York, USA: Columbia University Press, 2001. Pppp. 120–121.</ref>

Falangism has attacked both the political [[Left-wing politics|left]] and the [[Right-wing politics|right]] as its "enemies", declaring itself to be neither left nor right, but a [[Syncretic politics|syncretic]] [[Third Position|third position]]. Some also state they lean more towards authoritarian conservativism.<ref name="RogerGriffin">Roger Griffin (ed). ''Fascism''. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 1995. Ppp. 189.</ref> Scholarly sources reviewing Falangism place it on the [[Far-right politics|far right]] of the [[political spectrum]].<ref>Rodney P. Carlisle (general editor). ''The Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right, Volume 2: The Right''. Thousand Oaks, California, USA; London, England, UK; New Delhi, India: Sage Publications, 2005. Ppp. 633.</ref>

During the [[Spanish Civil War]], the Falange and the [[Carlism|Carlists]] both promoted the incorporation of [[Portugal]] into Spain, and the new Falange resulting from their unification in 1937 continued to do so. The Falange also advocated the incorporation of [[Gibraltar]] into Spain, both prior tobefore and after its merger with the Carlists. During its early years of existence, the Falange produced maps of Spain that included Portugal as a province of Spain.<ref>Wayne H. Bowen. ''Spain during World War II''. Columbia, Missouri, USA: University of Missouri Press, 2006. Ppp. 26.</ref> The Carlists stated that a Carlist Spain would retake Gibraltar and Portugal.<ref>M. K. Flynn. Ideology, mobilization, and the nation: the rise of Irish, Basque, and Carlist national movements in the nineteenthNineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Palgrave Macmillan, 1999. Ppp. 178.</ref> After the civil war, some radical members of the Falange called for a reunification with Portugal and annexation of former Spanish territories in the [[French Pyrenees]].<ref name="payne"/> During [[World War II]], Franco in a communiqué with Germany on 26 May 1942 declared that Portugal should be made a part of Spain.<ref>[[Paul Preston]]. ''Franco: a biography''. BasicBooks, a division of HarperCollins, 1994. Ppp. 857.</ref>

Some of the Falangists in Spain had supported [[racialism]] and racialist policies, viewing races as both real and existing with differing strengths, weaknesses and accompanying cultures inextricably obtained with them. However, unlike other racialists such as the [[Nazism|Nazis]], Falangism is unconcerned about racial purity and does not denounce other races for being inferior, claiming "that every race has a particular cultural significance" and claiming that the intermixing of the Spanish race and other races has produced a "Hispanic supercaste" that is "ethically improved, morally robust, spiritually vigorous".<ref>Roger Griffin (ed). ''Fascism''. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 1995. Ppp. 190.</ref> It was less concerned about biological Spanish racial regeneration than it was in advocating the necessity of Spanish [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] spiritual regeneration.<ref>Roger Griffin (ed). ''Fascism''. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 1995. Ppp. 191.</ref> Some have nonetheless promoted [[eugenics]] designed to eliminate physical and psychological damage caused by pathogenic agents. Falangism did and still does support [[natalism|natalitynatal]] policies to stimulate increased fertility rate among ideal physically and morally fit citizens.<ref>Roger Griffin (ed). ''Fascism''. Oxford, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 1995. Pppp. 190–191.</ref>

Franco praised Spain's [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] heritage, saying that the Germanic tribe of the Visigoths gave Spaniards their "national love for law and order".<ref>[[Roger Collins]]. ''Visigothic Spain 409 – 711409–711''. Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Pp. 3.</ref> During the early years of the Falangist regime of Franco, the regime admired Nazi Germany and had Spanish archaeologists seek to demonstrate that Spaniards were part of the [[Aryan race]], particularly through their [[Visigoths|Visigothic heritage]].<ref>Philip L. Kohl, Clare Fawcett. ''Nationalism, Politics and the Practice of Archaeology''. Cambridge, England, UK: Press Syndicate of Cambridge University Press, 1995. Pp. 46.</ref>

The founder of the [[Falange Española]], [[José Antonio Primo de Rivera]], had little interest in addressing the "[[Jewish question|Jewish problem]]" outside areas of political issues.<ref name="Spanish Holocaust">Paul Preston (2012). ''The Spanish Holocaust: Inquisition and Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain''. London, UK: HarperCollins. {{ISBN|978-0002556347}}</ref> The Falange's position was influenced by the fact of the small size of the [[Spanish and Portuguese Jews|Jewish community in Spain]] at the time that did not favorfavour the development of strong [[antisemitism]].<ref>Walter Laqueur, Judith Tydor Baumel. ''The Holocaust Encyclopedia''. Yale University Press, p. 183.</ref> Primo de Rivera saw the solution to the "Jewish problem" in Spain as simple: the conversion of Jews to Catholicism.<ref>Bowen, p. 20.</ref> However, on the issue of perceived political tendencies amongst Jews, he warned about Jewish-Marxist influences over the working classes.<ref name="Spanish Holocaust"/> The Falangist daily newspaper ''[[Arriba (newspaper)|Arriba]]'' claimed that "the [[Judeo-Masonic conspiracy theory|Judeo-Masonic International]] is the creator of two great evils that have afflicted humanity: capitalism and Marxism".<ref name="Spanish Holocaust"/> Primo de Rivera approved of attacks by Falangists on the Jewish-owned SEPU department stores in 1935.<ref name="Spanish Holocaust"/>

The Spanish Falange and its Hispanic affiliates have promoted the cultural, economic and racial unity of Hispanic peoples around the world in "''[[hispanidad]]''".<ref name="Stein Ugelvik Larsen 2001. Ppp. 120"/> It has sought to unite Hispanic peoples through proposals to create a commonwealth or federation of Spanish-speaking states headed by Spain.<ref name="payne">Stanley G. Payne. Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977. Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1999 pp. 330–331</ref>

Falangism supports a national, trans-class society while opposing individual-class-based societies such as bourgeois or proletarian societies. Falangism opposes [[class conflict]]. [[José Antonio Primo de Rivera]] declared that "[t]he State is founded on two principles—service to the united nation and the [[Class collaboration|cooperation of classes]]".<ref>Rodney P. Carlisle (general editor). ''The Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right, Volume 2: The Right''. Thousand Oaks, California, USA; London, England, UK; New Delhi, India: Sage Publications, 2005. Ppp. 633</ref>

OriginallyInitially, Falangism in Spain, as promoted by Primo de Rivera, advocated a "national syndicalist" economy that rejected both capitalism and communism.<ref name="RogerGriffin" /> Primo de Rivera denounced capitalism for being an individualist economy at the hands of the bourgeoisie that turned workers "into a dehumanized cog in the machinery of bourgeois production," and denounced [[State socialism|state socialist]] economies for "enslaving the individual by handing control of production to the state."<ref name="RogerGriffin" />

The Falange's original manifesto, the "Twenty-Seven Points", called for a social revolution to create a [[National syndicalism|national syndicalist]] economy that creates national syndicates of both employees and employers to mutually organize and control the economic activity mutually. It further advocated agrarian reform, industrial expansion, and respect for [[private property]] with the exception ofexcept nationalizing [[Credit (finance)|credit]] facilities to prevent capitalist [[usury]].<ref name="HansRogger"/> The manifesto also supported [[criminalization]] of [[Strike action|strikes]] by [[employee]]s and [[Lockout (industry)|lockouts]] by [[employer]]s as illegal acts,<ref name="BenjaminWelles">Benjamin Welles. ''Spain: the gentle anarchy''. Praeger, 1965. Ppp. 124.</ref> while mirroring social democratic policies in supporting state jurisdiction over the setting of wages.<ref name="BenjaminWelles" />

After the merger of the original Falange with the Carlists in 1937 to form the new Falange (FET y de las JONS) that would serve as the sole political party of [[Francoist Spain]], the result was a Falange intended as a "melting pot" for all of the various political factions on the Nationalist side of the civil war.<ref name="Stanley G. Payne 1999. Ppp. 273"/> It proclaimed support for "an economic middle way equidistant from liberal capitalism and Marxist materialism."<ref name="Stanley">Stanley G. Payne. ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin University Press, 1999. Ppp. 298.</ref> Private initiative and ownership was recognized as the most effective means of production, but owners and managers were givenresponsible the responsibility offor advancing that production for the common good.<ref name="Stanley" /> At the same time, it was made clear that the economy would continue to rest on private property, whose protection was guaranteed, while the state was envisioned as undertaking economic initiatives only when private enterprise failed or "the interests of the nation require it."<ref>Stanley G. Payne. ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin University Press, 1999. Ppp. 299.</ref> In October 1937, the new leader of the Falange, [[Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta]], declared national syndicalism to be fully compatible with [[capitalism]], drawing praise from the non-falangist right.<ref>Stanley G. Payne. ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977''. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin University Press, 1999. Ppp. 281.</ref>

The Franco-era Falange supported the development of [[cooperative]]s such as the [[Mondragon Corporation]] because it bolstered the Francoist claim of the nonexistence of social classes in Spain during his rule.<ref>Sharryn Kasmir. ''The Myth of Mondragón: Cooperatives, Politics, and Working-class Life in a Basque Town''. State University of New York, 1996. Ppp. 75.</ref>

Falangism is staunchly [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]].<ref>Cyprian P. Blamires (editor). ''World Fascism: A Historical Encyclopedia''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Ppp. 220: "the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS was formed... by representatives of very different ideologies united only by their proclaimed and resolute antiliberalism and anti-Marxism."</ref><ref name="Wayne"/> The Spanish Falange supported Spanish intervention during [[World War II]] against the [[Soviet Union]] in the name of anti-communism, resulting in Spain supporting the [[Anti-Comintern Pact]] and [[Blue Division|sending volunteers]] to join [[Nazi Germany]]'s foreign legions on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] to support the German war effort against the Soviet Union.<ref name="Wayne"/>

The Spanish Falange supported conservative ideas about women and supported rigid gender roles that stipulated that women's main duties in life were to be a loving mothermothers and a submissive wifewives.<ref name="Rodney">Rodney P. Carlisle (general editor). ''The Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right, Volume 2: The Right''. Thousand Oaks, California, USA; London, England, UK; New Delhi, India: Sage Publications, 2005. Ppp. 634.</ref> This policy was set against that of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] that provided [[universal suffrage]] to women.<ref name="Rodney"/> Its {{Lang-es|[[Sección Femenina]]|lit=Female Section|label=none}} instructed women to be good wives and mothers, teaching [[domestic economy]] and cultivating the folk dances of Spain in its {{lang-es|[[Coros y Danzas]]|lit=Choirs and Dances|label=none}} troupes. The Female Section enabled its leaders, women such as José Antonio's sister [[Pilar Primo de Rivera|Pilar]], who never married, to achieve prominent public roles while promoting family life.<ref name="Gahete">{{cite journal |last1=Gahete Muñoz |first1=Soraya |title=La Sección Femenina de Falange. Discursos y prácticas en Madrid |journal=Arenal |date=July–December 2015 |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=389–411 |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/5292081.pdf |access-date=17 September 2020 |trans-title=The Female Section of the Falange. Speeches and practices in Madrid |language=es}}</ref>

* Bowen, W.Wayne H. (2000) ''Spaniards and Nazi Germany: collaboration in the new order'', Columbia: Missouri University Press: Columbia, Missouri. {{ISBN|9780826213006978-0826213006}}.

* Ellwood, S.M. (1987) ''Spanish fascism in the Franco era: Falange Española de las Jons, 1936–76'', MacmillanLondon: LondonMacmillan. {{ISBN|9780333415856978-0333415856}}.