THE INFLUENCES OF TOTALITARIAN REGIMES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHNO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN INTERWAR AND POSTWAR SPAIN
THE INFLUENCES OF TOTALITARIAN REGIMES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHNO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN INTERWAR AND POSTWAR SPAIN

Summary/Abstract: Primo de Rivera's dictatorship proved to be the cornerstone in calibrating the historical, political and social context of Franco's dictatorship. Both regimes defended traditional Catholic and military values. Primo de Rivera's social-Christian ideology was based on Spanish nationalism and the fight against separatism. Franco's regime, with conservative views, was authoritarian rather than totalitarian. Franco's great concern was to maintain power and authority in Spain and not to gain the support of the masses, glory or the formation of an empire. Both regimes used nationalist ideologies, derived from the romantic theory of "cultural identity", by reviving the glorious moments of the nation and promoting traditions and popular customs. Some anthropologists have signaled the formation and promotion of symbols of national identity, of stereotypes, starting from a tradition, often invented. The reduction of a rich popular culture to the symbols on the flags, to some dances or to linguistic differences has led to an annoying and degrading result. The Franco dictatorship slowed down the development of Spanish anthropology and any interest in ethnology research disappeared. People identified with this field were exiled or repressed, and the activity of the institutions was suspended. The regime managed not only to keep the discipline at distance from all the progress registered outside the country, but also an involution inside the country. The only one that enjoyed a relative success in the Franco era, but not development, was the folklore, proving to be a useful tool in propaganda and mass manipulation. The emotional and direct contact with the popular tradition, recreated or invented, as well as the banal use they gave it, made folklore an instrument of transmission and propagation of the ideology of the Franco regime.

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