The People’s Dictator: The Life of General Primo de Rivera

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.

Alejandro Quiroga is Professor of Spanish History at Newcastle University and Beatriz Galindo Distinguished Researcher at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. His research focuses on twentieth and twenty-first century nationalisms and national identities in Europe.