Book Reviews : Spain: The Gentle Anarchy. By BENJAMIN WELLES. (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1965. Pp, ix, 386, $7.95.)

AuthorBen G. Burnett
Published date01 March 1966
Date01 March 1966
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1177/106591296601900164
Subject MatterArticles
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takes more exotic research overseas. An even more detailed listing of facilities and
sources available might well be compiled so that when the researcher has exhausted
them, his time spent overseas can be utilized to the maximum degree.
HARVEY G. KEBSCHULL
University of Montana
Spain: The Gentle Anarchy. By BENJAMIN WELLES. (New York: Frederick A.
Praeger, 1965. Pp, ix, 386, $7.95.)
This is a fascinating discussion of the foundations of political power in con-
temporary Spain written by a noted correspondent for the New York Times, whose
incisive reports from Iberia spanned a six-year period beginning in 1956.
Franco claims that the state he has created is an &dquo;organic&dquo; democracy and a
model for the underdeveloped countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. (Others
say this his regime perhaps no longer can be classed as a dictadura, but surely is at
least a dicta-blanda. ) The three pillars of Spanish society, according to El Caudillo,
are the family, the labor-employer Sindicate, and the municipality. In fact, political
power lies largely with the armed forces, the Church, and a heterogeneous assortment
of other elements. Since 1953, the military has been responding to a massive infusion
of United States aid by becoming &dquo;Americanized&dquo; in form if not in spirit. The senior
officers appear totally dedicated and loyal to Franco and almost certainly will deter-
mine the nature of government following Franco’s demise -
probably a monarchy.
Critics label the military an &dquo;army of occupation&dquo; and together with a formidable
police and security apparatus leave little elbowroom for recalcitrants.
While the Church largely follows the traditionalism of Cardinal Herrera, other
voices can also be heard. The Abbot of Montserrat speaks for progressivism and
attacks the old ways as &dquo;limited and narrow-minded.&dquo; Catholic Workers’ Brother-
hoods, intruding on a domain jealously held by the Falange, have been growing in
stature since the...

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