Barcelona Metropolis

This November marks fifty years since the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The generations that upheld the antifrancoist struggle and built the new democratic regime could scarcely have imagined that, decades later, democracy would once again be under threat from a rising neofascism whose strongest backing comes from young people. A mix of forgetfulness and deception has fuelled the far right’s growth across Europe, and in Spain – where it once seemed the country had been inoculated against it – we now see these forces steadily gaining electoral support. They are part of a global project that no longer seeks to act from the margins, but from within the system itself, in order to dismantle it.

In recent years we have witnessed attempts to rewrite history, to distort it and give Francoism a different meaning. We now see more clearly the importance of preserving democratic memory, because part of the far right’s success lies precisely in promoting nostalgia for an age of order that never existed, in idealising an invented past. Against this distortion, it is vital to explain who Franco was, what his coup d’état meant, and what kind of regime he established. It is worth remembering, for instance, that under the dictator women could not even open a bank account without their husband’s permission, and that an accusation of adultery could send them to prison.

Just as important as shedding light on the past is recognising the elements of the present that favour this resurgence. It is crucial to characterise the different forms of post-fascism and to understand why they can appeal to so many people, especially the young. To examine how they exploit dissatisfaction with unmet social needs and expectations, and how they play on fears of the future created by today’s uncertainties. And to consider the role of social media. The dossier “Franco: Why We Must Not Forget” brings together several articles that offer valuable keys to interpretation. They also reflect on the differences and similarities between Barcelona in 1975 and today, for in some respects – such as demographics – many features remain the same.