서양 현대 민주연합 ; 에스파냐 인민전선의 성립과정 = Organizing Process of Spanish Popular Front

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The Popular Front of Spain was formally created on 15 January 1936. It was a broad electoral coalition of six political parties, together with the socialist union, UGT, and the Young Socialists. How could such a diverse and different political groups reach this Pact? This is the main question to answer in this paper. At the end of 1934 there emerged from the weakest sectors of the left political parties two proposals. These were both destined to reduce the left`s fragmentation and division. The first proposal came from the Spanish Communist Party, which at that stage was extremely small and consequently lacked any real influence among Spanish workers. The second proposal emerged from the Republican Left and more particularly from the party`s leader, Manuel Azana. But the communist leaders were obliged to accept that the Socialists were not interested in unity of action initiatives, while Azana was also blocked any formal advance in the collaboration with the Socialists by Largo Caballero. In the second half of 1935 there were some changes in the strategy of Largo Caballero and in the tactics of the Spanish Communist Party, while Azana formally contacted the Socialist Party executive to propose that an electoral coalition be formed. This proposal of an electoral coalition was accepted under the condition that the labor groups such as the socialist and communist labor unions should be permitted to take part in. In short, heterogeneity of political groups signed the pact. This scarcely disguised the very limited commitment which each had acquired in signing, just as the disparity of their ultimate objectives and the fragility of the alliance itself remained equally visible. So, once formed the coalition proved to be an excellent instrument for procuring electoral victory but the worst possible tool of government. The forces of the Spanish left were united for the elections, but the Popular Front was a precarious unity.