: The regime implemented a massive project of patriotic education and indoctrination to "make the new Spaniard". This included:
: Quiroga argues that Primo de Rivera was a pioneer of right-wing populism in Spain. He utilized a sophisticated propaganda machine to spread "fake news" and vilify liberal elites, judges, and traditional politicians as enemies of the people.
In his comprehensive biography, , Alejandro Quiroga reinterprets Miguel Primo de Rivera not as a mere "paternalistic" figure, but as an astute architect of modern Spanish authoritarianism. Key "Deep Features" of the Dictatorship Miguel Primo De Rivera Alejandro Quiroga Fern...
: Primo de Rivera presented himself as Joaquín Costa’s "Iron Surgeon," a charismatic leader meant to "cure" Spain of political corruption and social chaos through direct, authoritarian intervention.
: Citizens were given "biometric cards" and "gymnastic record books" to track their physical and moral improvement as part of national regeneration. : The regime implemented a massive project of
: Ironically, the aggressive attempt to impose a monarchic and Catholic identity fueled the rise of regional nationalisms (Basque and Catalan) and secular republicanism, ultimately paving the way for the Second Spanish Republic.
: His policies emphasized "patriotic virility," grounding citizenship in duties and military-style discipline rather than rights. : Ironically, the aggressive attempt to impose a
Quiroga identifies several defining characteristics of Primo de Rivera's regime (1923–1930) that fundamentally reshaped Spain: