ABSTRACT
The classic studies of the political nature of Francoism were produced in the early sixties and seventies and belong to the realm of political science and sociology more than history. Despite some problems, the first, by Juan J. Linz, remains the best. Interpretations of Francoism have also suffered from an excessive interest in the political activities of the central administration and its elites. Obviously, the influence of Madrid was important. The role of state institutions such as ministries, official unions, the regime's rubber-stamp parliament, and the Falange must be taken into account. Rebel authorities began the organization of new city councils in October 1936. The regime revived Primo de Rivera's Municipal Statute, which gave provincial civil governors the power to appoint provisional municipal councils that included a city's most important taxpayers and other persons from whom loyal collaboration could be obtained.
