CULTURAL POLICY AND PARALLEL DIPLOMACY AS FRANCO’S TOOLS TO FACE INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION OF HIS REGIME

In this study, we address and analyze how the Franco regime exploited cultural strategy in order to address the international negativism against Spain. More particular, we overview the cultural policy followed by Franco for facing the international condemnation of the regime.
Our purpose is to draw conclusions from the research and evidence about whether Spain, even in that difficult period of its history at every level - political, social, cultural, had conceived the power of culture and the extent to which Spain drawn up and implemented a cultural strategy during a rather unfavorable period for the country. During that period, having come out of a bloody and devastating civil war which ended in favor of dictator Franco and the enforcement of his regime, Spain turned a page in its history; the involved course of events was expected to be equally difficult for the country. Spain received particular negativism on behalf of the international community while the dictatorship of Franco was clearly condemned. This attitude resulted, once again, in the marginalization of Spain depriving its participation in the development and world progress.

The Franco regime having fully conceived and understood the power of the cultural elements of Spain, began to implement a clear cultural strategy in order to win over countries with which Spain shared cultural elements, such as religion. In this context, we present our analysis on how the Franco regime tried to address and reverse the internationally imposed condemnation as well as on the role of the cultural strategy and parallel diplomacy during that period.