"The Congreso por la Libertad de la Cultura" and its support of Intellectual Dissidence during Francoism

Abstract

This article reconstructs the principal aspects of the work of the Congreso por la Libertad de la Cultura among the anti-Francoist opposition of the inlands. The political circumstances that motivated the foundation of the Spanish Committee (1959-1977) and the principal characteristics of this intellectual anti-Francoist cell are described. The article inquires about the ideological and political objectives behind the activities of the Congreso de la Libertad de la Cultura among the dissident intellectual and cultural elites during the late years of Francoism. Special attention is paid to the direct aid given by the Congreso por la Libertad de la Cultura, to Spanish intellectuals and artists by way of book and travel grants, conceded through the Comité d’Ecrivains et d’Editeurs pour une Entraide Européenne. A list of the names of the principal Spanish beneficiaries of this aid has also been reconstructed, as well as the principal issues tied to the development of the program. The historical analysis is based on documents from various national and international archives.