The People’s Dictator

This book is the first major biography of General Miguel Primo de Rivera, dictator of Spain between 1923 and 1930, who profoundly transformed Spain and played a key role in the shaping of a counterrevolutionary Europe in the interwar era.

Following new historiographical trends, the book combines biographical experiences of the dictator with a sociopolitical reading of the dictatorship to reflect on the configuration of national, political, and gender identities at individual and group level. It challenges traditional readings of Primo de Rivera as a benign, non-ideological leader who established a paternalistic dictatorship, instead showing an astute and ambitious politician who created a nationalist, highly repressive, authoritarian regime profoundly influenced by Italian fascism. The monograph also explores Primo de Rivera's role as the creator of right-wing populism in Spain, who portrayed politicians and judges as enemies of the Spanish people, used “fake news” in his propaganda machine, and presented himself as a charismatic leader ready to destroy the liberal elites.

This book is intended for scholars and students specializing in Spanish history and politics, along with those interested in nationalism, populism, far-right movements, Fascism, dictators, and authoritarian regimes in twentieth-century European history.