The main characteristics of Falangism are the same as those of Italian fascism, plus a large dose of Catholicism and national-syndicalism.
There is no doubt that the first influences received by this movement came from Italy, but that ideological spectrum was already occupied in Spain by the JAP (Juventudes de Acción Popular). From this, the Falangists developed certain traits of their own.
The Spanish Falange was founded in that country by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, in 1933, in the middle of the Second Republic.
Although it came to run, with little success, in the elections, the Falange was always against the existence of political parties.
He played an important role in the events prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, defending the use of violence as a political weapon.
Five main characteristics of Falangism
Falangism, more than an ideology, should be considered a political movement that achieved considerable influence in Spain prior to the Civil War of 1936.
Although it shares some principles with Italian fascism, it also has its own characteristics. Some of these are highlighted below:
one-
One of the main characteristics of the Spanish Falange was its call to overcome both capitalism and Marxism. To do this, they tried to create what they called a "union state", without political parties or ideological currents.
The state proposed by this movement would be led by a corporatist union, also called vertical.
This union would be made up of all economic agents, from employers to workers, and would be the one that would hold ownership of the productive means. In this way, the class struggle would be overcome and the country would be structured.
two-
This is another of the key points in Falangist thought, directly linked to the previous one. Not in vain, this ideology is known as national-unionism.
It is a rather extreme nationalism, although based more on Spanish peculiarities than on the confrontation with other countries.
Primo de Rivera speaks of Spain as "a unit of destiny in the universal." This means that the Spanish nation had the obligation to unite the different races and languages, ending the nationalisms of regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country.
As for the exterior, the imperialism typical of classical fascism remains somewhat nuanced. The Spanish Falange only refers to those countries that share a language and tradition, such as Latin Americans, which, according to its doctrine, should be culturally and economically guided by Spain.
3-
The intention of the Spanish Falange was to create a totalitarian state, giving a backbone role to the corporate union. The political parties would disappear, leaving a one-party regime.
On the other hand, he advocated a State that was present in all areas, as stated in the fascist proclamation "outside the State, nothing."
Primo de Rivera himself endorses this statement when he declares that "Our State will be a totalitarian instrument at the service of the nation's integrity."
4-
One of the aspects that separates Falangism from Italian fascism is its appeal to Catholicism and tradition as fundamental elements for the new State.
While Mussolini wants to reflect on the past of ancient Rome to try to create a new empire, the Spanish Falange fixes on that Catholic traditionalism.
Primo affirms: “the Catholic interpretation of life is, first of all, the true one; but it is also historically Spanish ”.
Even though this point was one of the important bases, this movement was not, strictly speaking, a confessional party.
Although after the war, the Franco dictatorship if it were, there were more secular currents in the Spanish Falange.
5-
The ideology of the Falange is deeply anti-communist. For them, Marxism is a current that dehumanizes man, making him lose his traditions.
Furthermore, the communists' opposition to religions made them natural enemies. However, economically, they had more points in common with them than with the liberals.
They were in favor of nationalizing the banks and carrying out an agrarian reform that, while respecting private property, would put it at the service of the community.
In fact, the means of production would be in the hands of the single union, managing itself. Due to this set of ideas, the Spanish Falange was considered a third way between the two currents.
According to them, with their new state the differences between left and right would be overcome, the class struggle would end and social peace would reign.
References
- White, Francisco. Phalanx and history. The trail of History. Recovered from rumbos.net
- Stories and biographies. Summary of Spanish Falangism and its characteristics. (2017). Obtained from historiaybiografias.com
- Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Phalanx. (July 20, 1998). Retrieved from britannica.com
- Trueman, CM The Falange. Retrieved from historylearningsite.co.uk
- Eco-Finance. Falangism. Obtained from eco-finanzas.com