Thread by @CEBKCEBKCEBK

Franco ruled until 1975. Spain’s real per cap GDP growth rate was over 2X in 1951-1974 what it was 1975-2007, & since then it’s collapsed. The homicide rate was about 5X lower under Franco. He reduced public debt to GDP ratio by 5X—then left & it grew 10X. TFR fell 2.5X 1975-1990

https://twitter.com/tankie_think/status/1779903612769997258

Look at the graphs & charts: this isn’t word games; you can clearly see the trend breaks for the worse right when he leaves. While it’s true that Europe did better 1945-1975 than since, he’s also an outlier—for better—from them. You can also look at life expectancy, literacy, etc

Spain was in many ways the first “Westphalian state”—even before the Treaties of Westphalia! They went from nothing to saving Europe from Islam, & then to exploring & civilizing the rest of the world, & etc. But oh no 3000 died in the Spanish Inquisition over 200 years, how awful

& then—right after convulsing Russia with bloody Civil War, & a famine, & a failed invasion of Europe, & another famine, & gulags, & purges—Stalinists violently overthrew the moderate elected Spanish government & started another awful war… How dare Franco beat back their terror!

It may sound like I’m exaggerating the Spanish Civil War—“surely both sides got their hands dirty, or surely Franco was at fault”—but no, this piece by @TheWorthyHouse convinced me that communists were 100% to blame, & Franco was a moderate reluctant hero

theworthyhouse.com/2019/04/16/on-…