The document discusses the internationalization of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) through three main points: 1) It defines internationalization as the explicit decision to involve international actors in a domestic conflict. 2) It explains various factors that can lead to internationalization, including domestic interests of local parties seeking military/political support, and international factors like opportunism and interventionism. 3) It discusses the international context of the 1930s in Europe, with the rising threats posed by fascist regimes in Germany and Italy seeking territorial expansion, countered by France and Britain's support for the post-WW1 status quo.

1. Internationalization of the Civil
Conflicts: the Case of Spanish
Civil War (1936-1939)

2. Contents
Section I: Definitions and Theoretical Framework
Section II: International context of the 1930’s
Section III: The process of internationalization of
Spanish conflict. (1936 July-September)

3. Internationalization is the process through
which an explicit and conscious decision is
made: the decision to involve international
actors in any phase-hostilities or negotiation –
of a domestic conflict.
The alternative strategy is to isolate the internal
conflict and consciously exclude international
actors.
Internationalize Isolate

4. The decision to internationalize (or not to) can be
made by different agents:
Internationalization Internal agents
External actor (local parties to
the conflict)

5. In fact, internationalization is a
decision making process made by
specific agents with specific goals
and interests in mind.
Internationalization is clearly
intentional, intended and
calculated.

6. Explanations of Internationalization:
Internationalization
process
Domestic factors International factors
Domestic actors‟
Identity
interests
Opportunism Intervention
Diversionary Construction
Externalization
theories of alliances

7. Explanations of Internationalization:
Domestic actors‟ interests
Externalization Diversionary
is a phenomenon according to which
theories Construction
governments engaged in civil wars can
initiate military action against neighboring of alliances
According to this
states for two fundamental reasons. perspective, leaders
in civil war states (Barnett and
seek to draw Levy‟s
A second form of attention away from approach)
First, these
externalization domestic problems.
governments may
occurs when states International conflict
undertake cross-
experiencing civil serves a twofold
border
wars engage in purpose: it diverts
counterinsurgency
retaliatory attacks attention form
actions because
against domestic struggles
rebels often seek out
interventionist and it serves as a
foreign sanctuaries
neighbors in the pretext to crack
or attempt to flee
hope of coercing down on domestic
repression by
them into opponents.
slipping across
withdrawing
borders
support

8. Explanations of Internationalization:
International factors
Opportunism suggests that civil
wars can increase the risk of
interstate violence by lowering the Intervention
expected benefits of using military
force. Another theory that
emphasizes the role of international
actors is related to the concept of
intervention and the main question is
what motivates external actors to
intervene in domestic conflict or what
are the conditions that make
intervention.

9. Interventions during civil war can be categorized into two major
groups.
Intervention
Neutral (multilateral) Military intervention
(main goal is to restore peace in (unilateral)
the target country, bring stability
to the region)

10. Military intervention – Unilateral convention-breaking military
activity in the internal affairs of another state targeted at the
authority structure of that state in order to alter the balance of
power between the government and rebel group in favor of one
over the other. Intervention in a civil war includes actions such as
providing loans to a civil war combatant for military purchases,
offering military training and advising, allowing territory to be
used for bases and camps, supplying weapons and war material,
enacting and enforcing n arms blockade against one of the
combatants, the shelling of one of the combatants, and the
deployment of forces to the civil war state.

11. Regularities in interventionary behavior
Much has been written about intervention, the bulk of this literature consists of case
histories, rather that explanations of patterned regularities in interventionary behavior.
Those who attempt to explain regularities usually draw from four sets in independent
variables:
2
Socio-cultural cleavages
and political stability
(Holst)
1 3
Geographical proximity
Economic (Kolko) (Luard)
Strategic (Gurtov) Power differentials
(Vincent)
4
Alliance polarization
(Kaplan)
Capability distribution
(Young)

12. Internationalizing their conflict local parties have two main
interess:
1. Military support (material resources to fight the war)
2. International legitimacy
Military
Military support
Internationalization
International Political
legitimacy Internationalization

13. The European and International context of the 1930‟s
The main threat to the dominant international order in inter-war and
especially in 30‟s Europe came from the new counter-revolutionary and
totalitarian regimes imposed by Benito Mussolini in Italy (1922) and
Adolf Hitler in Germany (1933), both the Fascist and the Nazi
dictatorships practised a belligerent and revisionist foreign policy.

14. (1) The recovery of full
military capacity and of
those territories lost by the
Treaty of Versailles in 1919;
(2) The transformation of
Germany into a hegemonic
power in central Europa,
annexing or neutralizing
rivals such as Austria,
Czechoslovakia or Poland;
(3) The conquest of European
Russia in order to become
an impregnable continental
power and a world power
without parallel.

15. WHY DID WEST NOT TAKE
STEPS TO STOP HITLER
WHEN THEY HAD THE
CHANCE?
At first he acted cautiously
Talked of desire for peace
Never had predetermined
timetable
Took advantage of
opportunities as they arose,
avoided risks, and accepted
success when it occurred
Emphasized desire to avoid
war
Stressed that all he wanted to
do was make fair changes to
Versailles Treaty

16. The revisionist plans of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany were in direct contrast to the
interests and objectives of the two principal powers which benefited from and guaranteed
the status quo in Europe: the democratic regimes of France and Great Britain. In both
countries the territorial revisionism of the Nazi and Fascist imperial irredentism were
perceived with apprehension. For this reason, the Franco-British entente remained
unchanged during the entire inter-war period. Nevertheless, a hostile combination of both
dictatorships was considered very improbable because there was a clear antagonism in
their respective foreign policies. The German aim to annex Austria and to achieve
hegemony in the Balkans came up against the Italian aspiration to guarantee Austrian
independence (as a ,cushion state, in the north) and to exercise a de facto protectorate over
the Balkans.

17. Rearmament
As Germany was still militarily weak in 1933, Hitler had to move cautiously at first. He withdrew from
the Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations on the grounds that France would not agree to
German equality of armaments. Hitler insisted that Germany was willing to disarm if other states agreed to
do the same, and that he wanted only peace.
Germany was forced to disarm by the Treaty of Versailles, but France did not disarm at the same time, and
this caused tensions between the two countries. The Germans resented the French and feared military
interference. For instance, France was able to simply walk unopposed into the Ruhr in 1923 to
secure reparations payments.
The Saar 1935
The Saar was returned to Germany (January 1935) after a plebiscite resulting in a 90% vote in favour.
Though the plebiscite had been provided for at Versailles, Nazi propaganda made the most of the success, and
Hitler announced that now all causes of grievance between France and Germany had been removed.
The Rhineland 1936
Encouraged by Mussolini‟s fall out with Britain and France, Hitler took the risk of sending troops into the
demilitarised zone of the Rhineland in March 1936. Though the troops had orders to withdraw at the first sign
of French opposition, no resistance was offered beyond the usual protests. This was a vital step in rebuilding
German power. Strong fortifications and forces here would stop France coming to the help of her East
European allies.

18. INVASION OF ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia invaded in
October 1935 by
Italian army
Used modern
weapons against
Ethiopian forced
who still primarily
used spears and
bows and arrows
Invasion was
encouraged by Hitler
Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations
League imposed economic sanctions against Italy But left sanctions weak by
excluding oil from list of embargo products. Did not close Suez Canal to Italian
ships heading for Ethiopia
Over 500,000 Ethiopians killed in fighting (only 5000 Italian casualties).
Country falls in May 1936.
Mussolini had blatantly defied the League of Nations and had gotten away with
it.

19. Spain a country that had long been relegated to the sidelines of history suddenly
thrust itself on the world‟s attention.

20. One of Giral's first steps, on the night of I9-20 July, was to
send an urgent request to the French Government for
assistance in the form of military supplies.
,,Are surprised by dangerous military uprising <...>
Request you to come to immediate agreement with us
for the supply of arms and air- craft. Fraternally yours,
Giral.”

21. French Premier Leon Blum decided on 21 July secretly to accept the republican
request for support after consulting with his government coalition partners.
French public opinion and political circles became deeply divided over the issue.
,,What is being
planned, this
delivery of arms to
Spain, may mean
war or revolution in
France”
President of the French Republic
Alber Lebren

22. Uncompromisingly neutral British position deeply worried the Franch
government and led it to overturn its initial decision .

23. On 25 July 1936, following an intense debate in the cabinet, Leon
Blum announced the decision not to intervene in the Spanish
conflict and the cancellation of any shipment of arms and
munitions.
The Franch leaders believed that in this way they could contribute
to appeasing the domestic situation, reinforcing their alliance with
Britain, and confining the conflict to Spain to avoid the threat of its
transformation into a European war. Nevertheless, the French
retraction did nothing to prevent the rapid internationalization of
the conflict.

24. Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Madrid 25 July 1936
To the Ambassador of the USSR in France
Dear Sir:
The government of the Republic of Spain needs to supply its army
with modern armaments in significant quantities to conduct the
struggle against those who began and are continuing the civil war
against the legal authority and constitutional government and who are
being supplied with weapons and ammunition from abroad in
abundant quantities. the government I head, knowing what sort of
means and availability of military material are at the disposal of the
USSR, decided to appeal to you to notify your government about the
desire and necessity, which our government is experiencing, for
supplies of armaments and ammunition of all categories and in very
great quantities, from your country.
Taking the opportunity, etc.
Signature: José Giral
José Giral
Document RGVA f.33987 op. 3 d. 991 ll. 56-59

25. Soviet involvement in the civil war was developed in such forms:
1. From 18 July to 2 August 1936, the Soviet government attempted to assess the
situation in Spain through consultations with its agents in the field, but the regime
took no action, either domestically or internationally.
2. From 3 August to 20 August, Moscow began exploiting events in Spain for a
propaganda campaign, both domestically and internationally.
3. From 21 August to 1 October, the Soviet regime stepped up its involvement
with the Republic on the diplomatic and humanitarian fronts, and began paving the
way for long-term military intervention.

26. Franco instructed Bolin to go to Rome to seek help. He gave him a
sheet of paper containing the cryptic message... And when Bolin asked
what kind of aircraft and supplies, Franco added a scribbled footnote in
pencil ....

27. The Italian decision to intervene in the Spanish
civil war was taken sometimes between 25 and
27 July.
Benito Duce Mussolini
Galeazo Ciano
,,Ministro Degli Affary Esteri “
Son-in-love of Duce

28. On 23 July 1936 the German foreign Ministry rejected a request for support
from the rebels.
Foreign Office on Wilhelmstrasse No. 76 Konstantin von Neurath
Party Line
Francos‟
emissaries

29. Hitler‟s advisors in Bayreuth: Goring, Canaris, Blomberg
• Hitlers decision at Bayreuth set off a chain of events that led to continued
German military intervention in Spain.
• In summary Hitler‟s military intervention escalated in at least three stages:
1. Operation ,,Feurzauber” in July-August 1936; 2. Operation Otto in
September 1936 and 3. Legion Condor‟s dispatch in October-November

31. Franch government proposed on 1 August 1936 that
the main European powers subscribe to an agreement
of non-intervention in Spain.
At the end of August 1936, the twenty-seven
European states had officially subscribed to the Non-
Intervention in Spain Agreement, whereby they
deplored „the tragic events being enacted in Spain‟,
decided „to strictly abstain from all interference,
either direct or indirect, in the internal affairs of this
country‟, and banned „the exporting … re-exporting
and delivery to Spain, Spanish possessions or the
Spanish zone in Morocco, of all types of arms,
munitions and war materiel‟. The monitoring of this
agreement was conducted by a Non-Intervention
Committee, set up in London on 9 September under
the chairmanship of the Conservative Lord Plymouth,

32. Motivations of Intervention (or Non-Intervention) of Great Powers in
Spanish civil war
Motives Great Frence Germany Italy USSR
Britain
Localization of conflict
+ + + + +
Territorial integrity of Spain
+ + + + +
Geostrategic goals
+ + ± + ±
Liquidation of pro-Communist seat
+ ± + + -
Use Spanish soil as a testing Ground
- - + + +
Solidarity with Spanish Republic
- ± - - +
Establish or straighten of existing
military political alliance + + + + +