Franco, the Caudillo: Origins and Profile of a Charismatic Political Leadership

Authors

  • Enrique Moradiellos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/hp.35.11

Keywords:

Franco, francoism, caudillo, charisma, charismatic power

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the concept of «caudillo» as supreme political institution of the Francoist regime, considering its etymology and public uses prior to the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. The conflict was a useful platform for its application, in the media prior to legal quarters, to the new type of charismatic political authority assumed by Franco as a result of three different but convergent sources: military power, religious sacralization and civilian party leadership. The consequent theories on «caudillaje» were a sort of formal coverage for an autocratic dictatorship which remain untouchable during the forty years of existence of Francoism.

Issue

Section

STUDIES

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