Balearic Islands as the Taiwan of Spain

[Kneze]

What would be the effects of a Republican exile state (or Anarco-Syndicate) in the Balearic Islands after the Spanish Civil War in a similar fashion to the Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan?

[Brasidas]

Originally Posted by Kneze

What would be the effects of a Republican exile state (or Anarco-Syndicate) in the Balearic Islands after the Spanish Civil War in a similar fashion to the Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan?

A rebuilding of the Spanish navy, a blockade, and an amphibious assault?

[karl2025]

Yeah, I can't imagine a Socialist/Annarcho-Communist state surviving when it's surrounded by fascists. England and France may be able to step in and guarantee independence, but as soon as France Falls to the Germans in '40 the English would have to drop it to keep Spain happy/busy enough not to join in the war. I'm not even sure if the islands could support an independent state.

Maybe if for some reason France loaned their Mediterranean Navy to the islands before their government surrendered (In order to preserve it from the Nazis) then the Republicans may be able to protect their independence without overt British Support. I don't think this is likely because the Brits and French never really wanted to get involved in the civil war and I don't think they'd be interested in either helping Socialists or expanding the war.

If they do survive, they're going to have a lot of problems. Politically, I don't know how long they could remain a republic with the necessary militarization, they'd almost have to go that next step into a sort of Stalinist Communism. And then when the Cold War fires up, I'm not sure how long a Communist state could exist in the midst of so many anti-communist nations.

They'd just be surrounded by people who want them to fail for at least 60 years, which is too bad, it'd make an interesting scenario.

[Hapsburg]

Originally Posted by Kneze

What would be the effects of a Republican exile state (or Anarco-Syndicate) in the Balearic Islands after the Spanish Civil War in a similar fashion to the Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan?

Not likely.
Perhaps the other way around, though. The republicans (analogues to the socialists in the Chinese Civil War) win the Spanish Civil War, take control, and the Nationalists are forced into exile, controlling say the Balearic Isles and Spain's African colonies. A nearby Italian Fascist state could thus lend support, and force mainland, republican Spain to be cautious about subverting insular, nationalist Spain.
If WW2 is somehow avoided, or at least if Italy keeps out, we could see a long-lasting Italian fascist state and thus longer support of Insular Spain.

[wilcoxchar]

It would work better if Republican Spain was exiled to the Canaries instead of the Belearic Islands. That way they could still receive support from the Allies in WWII even after France falls.

[mishery]

Originally Posted by wilcoxchar

It would work better if Republican Spain was exiled to the Canaries instead of the Belearic Islands. That way they could still receive support from the Allies in WWII even after France falls.

Interesting. They end up with a healthy tourism driven economy...would they re-unify with Spain after Franco's death?

[Tyr]

Originally Posted by karl2025

Yeah, I can't imagine a Socialist/Annarcho-Communist state surviving when it's surrounded by fascists.

Why would it turn into an anarcho-communist state?

[MerryPrankster]

Originally Posted by karl2025

If they do survive, they're going to have a lot of problems. Politically, I don't know how long they could remain a republic with the necessary militarization, they'd almost have to go that next step into a sort of Stalinist Communism.

The US remained a republic with all sorts of militarization, as did the French in years prior.

Outside enemies are conducive to dictatorship at home, but that's not inevitable.

[MerryPrankster]

Originally Posted by Leej

Why would it turn into an anarcho-communist state?

One of the big factions of the Spanish Republic was the syndicalists.

[MerryPrankster]

Originally Posted by Hapsburg

Not likely.
Perhaps the other way around, though. The republicans (analogues to the socialists in the Chinese Civil War) win the Spanish Civil War, take control, and the Nationalists are forced into exile, controlling say the Balearic Isles and Spain's African colonies. A nearby Italian Fascist state could thus lend support, and force mainland, republican Spain to be cautious about subverting insular, nationalist Spain.
If WW2 is somehow avoided, or at least if Italy keeps out, we could see a long-lasting Italian fascist state and thus longer support of Insular Spain.

Interesting idea. IIRC it took Italian or German aircraft to bring Franco's army into Spain. If the Italians or Germans don't step in, or the Spanish Republicans are able to interfere enough, the rebellion could stay outside of Spain itself.

[Tocomocho]

Originally Posted by karl2025

Yeah, I can't imagine a Socialist/Annarcho-Communist state surviving when it's surrounded by fascists. England and France may be able to step in and guarantee independence, but as soon as France Falls to the Germans in '40 the English would have to drop it to keep Spain happy/busy enough not to join in the war. I'm not even sure if the islands could support an independent state.

Maybe if for some reason France loaned their Mediterranean Navy to the islands before their government surrendered (In order to preserve it from the Nazis) then the Republicans may be able to protect their independence without overt British Support. I don't think this is likely because the Brits and French never really wanted to get involved in the civil war and I don't think they'd be interested in either helping Socialists or expanding the war.

If they do survive, they're going to have a lot of problems. Politically, I don't know how long they could remain a republic with the necessary militarization, they'd almost have to go that next step into a sort of Stalinist Communism. And then when the Cold War fires up, I'm not sure how long a Communist state could exist in the midst of so many anti-communist nations.

They'd just be surrounded by people who want them to fail for at least 60 years, which is too bad, it'd make an interesting scenario.

First, You seem to have a very distorted vission of what was the Spanish 2nd Republic. In relity, by the time the communists had a real say there the war was simply unwinnable by the Republic.

Second, two of the three Balearic Islands declared for the "Nationals" and had Italian naval support. The only way to have this taiwanesque analogy developing is what others said before: The Republicans win in the mainland after a long war (possible if France and Britain had not boycotted her byinaction), Northern Morocco is invaded by air and after that the local authorities in the Canaries, Sahara and Guinea simply say that they weren't really "rebels" but neutral in the war. By then the fascists in the Balearics have proclaimed independence as a last card and Italy has set a protectorate status over them. What happens then is obvious: WW2 breaks out, Spain is in the allies since the beginning and Hitler invades the Iberian peninsula instead of Russia.

[Tyr]

Originally Posted by MerryPrankster

One of the big factions of the Spanish Republic was the syndicalists.

Not the ruling faction though.
The Republicans were a pretty average left of centre government.