Intellectuals and Warriors: The Ideological and Political Basis of Francoist University Sport, 1933–1946. Issue 11 (24th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mirabet, Raquel; Pujadas, Xavier
• Is Part Of: International journal of the history of sport. Volume 35:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1176
• Page End: 1197
• Publication Date: 2018-07-24
• Subjects: Francoism -- university sport -- physical education -- sport and authoritarianism -- Spain; Sports -- History -- Periodicals; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.483
• DOI: 10.1080/09523367.2019.1582523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3367

Abstract

Abstract: Examining the use of sport by totalitarian regimes during the interbellum period reveals that politicians saw the potential of sport not only for patriotic expression and international exhibition but also as a means to exert control over youth. Francoism participated in such uses of sport, imitating German and Italian organizations' development of a youth sport structure. The Franco regime emphasized sport in universities to the extent that it made physical education a required subject to obtain a degree. This study's primary objective is to reconstruct the doctrinal genesis of Francoist university sport, tracing it to the years before the Spanish Civil War, specifically noting the international influences that sustained it and the draft regulations that gave it legal standing despite resistance from both university youth and from sport. To this end, documentary sources are analyzed, including archival material, printed sources (legal decrees written during the period examined in this study and historical accounts of the subject), publications of Falange and related organizations, and speeches and proclamations from Falange and the Sindicato Español Universitario (SEU).