ABSTRACT
Spain has long been one of the most backward societies in Europe—a surrealistic contrast with the position it enjoyed at the time of its greatness. Rural poverty was the principal characteristic of central and southern Spain. The existence of a powerful anarchist mass movement was indisputable proof that Spain was in need of drastic, sweeping reforms; yet anarchism itself was to prove the principal obstacle to such reforms. The political situation in Spain became even graver than usual, and troubles in Spanish Morocco led to humiliating massacres of Spanish troops by North African rebels. The essence of the Spanish tragedy lies perhaps in this: those who wanted to change the old Spain either did not have a clear picture of where they wanted to go, or had not the faintest idea how to proceed, or else confused reform with vendettas against personal and institutional enemies. Franco's Spain was one of the least "fascist" of the fascist regimes.
