Can the Franco Regime Be Regarded S Fascist?

Can the Franco regime be regarded as fascist?

The rebel movement which erupted in Spain in the 1930’s brought up the ideologies which would support the proposed ‘New State’, a nation built on religion, tradition and Spanish patriotism; ideas which were absorbed and used by several different political groups and the military to secure the support of the rural populous. The Falanges as an increasingly significant party adopted and created some of these ideals concerning national identity and the creation of a perceivable ‘Spanish’ state, though they lacked the legitimacy of even some leftist parties with the loss of many leaders. In this way the Falanges became more a device of the regime, a mule of ideology which attracted a popular support but was in no position to administer it on behalf of themselves. The image of the movement and of military rebellion was in following through the initial and withstanding aims of ‘saving Spain’, not of specific political rebellion or desire to attain control through a coup, “The military rebellion did not begin as a specifically ‘specifically anti-Republican’ movement. It had no precise program or ideology other than that of ‘saving Spain from anarchy’”[1] The involvement of the military, initially provocateurs of rebellion, was akin to ones wielded sword; the army requiring a political leader to employ the tool of the military. The military as an institution and with their primary involvement was also important because it saw off any need for militias, a staunch characteristic of fascist regimes in the rise to power. In this one can view the early stages of rise to authoritarianism and determine between a dictatorship which ‘represents the national identity of the people’ and that of the fascist movement in the twentieth century.
On the same thread, the involvement of the Catholic Church in the beginning stages of political upheaval can be utilised to shine light on the form of the regime. Mola’s declaration, “We are...