Social assistance or institutional building? The assistance work of the Spanish Republican government in Exile (1945-1949)

Abstract

The Spanish Republican government born in exile in 1945 represents the consolidation of the institutional opposition to Franco's regime from exile, led by Martinez Barrio. However, as this government started to work it was forced to deal with the hard reality of a divided political exile and a growing international context less favourable to the cause of the republic. Social assistance would become an invaluable route of legitimation. Through this support policy, the exiled government sought for the recognition of refugees and to obtain international acceptance. In this article, we will study how they developed this aid in France and Mexico, analyzing the contributions in this concept and the troubles for its development.