Fighting dictatorships: reflections on the student movement in Spain during the 20th century

Abstract

During the 20th century, Spain experienced two dictatorial periods: The Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923-1930) and the Franco Dictatorship (1939-1975). This article analyzes the differences and similari-ties expressed by the student movement in both periods.In the fall of both dictatorships, the struggle of students was decisive. Articulated around their own demands, they put in crisis not only the university model but also the dominant political and social system through their profound criticism.In both cases, the student movement was part of the youth movements that developed in other parts of the world. The absence of political freedoms curiously caused a very high level of politicization, higher than that of other student movements that were contemporaneous.