Pío Moa
Encyclopedia
Luis Pío Moa Rodríguez better known as simply Pío Moa, is a Spanish
writer
and journalist
. His specialised subject field is the history and origins of the Spanish Civil War
, the Second Republic in Spain
, Francoism and the various political movements of that era.
During his youth, Moa was a radical anti-Francoist agitator. He was a militant of the Communist Party of Spain (and its reconstituted version
), as well as the clandestine Maoist, designated-terrorist organisation GRAPO. Following the transition of Spain to democracy
, Moa dedicated himself to the study of contemporary Spanish history, evolving over time to an organic conservative Francoist position.
Moa argues that the Popular Front
were ultimately responsible for the Spanish Civil War
and the rise of autocracy
in Spain, claiming that they have left a legacy of "moral and political, intellectual devastation". Accusing the left of hypocrisy in regards to democracy
and totalitarianism
. The polemical and politically incorrect
nature of Moa's writings have gained him much public attention in Spain and a measure of controversy as a result; his best selling book, Myths of the Civil War, with 150,000 units sold, was a best-seller for six consecutive months.
, Galicia, Spain, Moa was a charter member of various Marxist-Leninist and Maoist tendency organisations as a youth, including GRAPO, which was the armed wing of the reconstituted Communist Party of Spain
. It was involved in violent clashes with the government's Movimiento Nacional
. Moa was present at the murder of a policeman on 1 October 1975, carried out after the execution of two ETA
and three FRAP
members. Two other members of GRAPO, Enrique Cerdán Calixto and Abelardo Collazo Araújo, were also present; Cerdán shot the police officer. Moa was expelled from GRAPO in 1977, he later recalled this period of his life in About a time and a country, the violent Left.
his opinions changed towards increasingly conservative
positions. He is an outspoken critic of the Spanish political left which he accuses of being the main cause of the Spanish Civil War.
He has also written essays on feminism, marxism, current Spanish politics and an autobiographical book about his experiences in the terrorist group GRAPO. In his books he criticizes strongly Franco's democratic, socialist and nationalist rivals. Moa is
disliked by scholars, such as Paul Preston
, Alberto Reig Tapia, Javier Tusell, Justo Serna, Mercedes Yusta, Santos Juliá or Enrique Moradiellos. While disagreeing with many of Moa's theses, historian Stanley G. Payne
has praised the work of Pio Moa.
He has been accused of homophobia
by civil rights groups and of being a defender of Francoism. In an interview in 2008 he openly refused to condemn Franco's dictatorship. However, he declares in his books that he does not defend the dictatorship, but rather criticizes his rivals.
He was the editor of the historical journals Tanteos (1988–1990) and Ayeres (1991–1993) and a librarian at the Ateneo de Madrid
, a prestigious cultural and literary institute in Madrid, belonging to its board of directors for three years.
He currently writes for right-wing online newspapers such as Libertad Digital
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. His specialised subject field is the history and origins of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, the Second Republic in Spain
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
, Francoism and the various political movements of that era.
During his youth, Moa was a radical anti-Francoist agitator. He was a militant of the Communist Party of Spain (and its reconstituted version
Communist Party of Spain (Reconstituted)
The Partido Comunista de España , PCE is a Spanish clandestine communist party that broke out from the Communist Party of Spain ....
), as well as the clandestine Maoist, designated-terrorist organisation GRAPO. Following the transition of Spain to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
, Moa dedicated himself to the study of contemporary Spanish history, evolving over time to an organic conservative Francoist position.
Moa argues that the Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
were ultimately responsible for the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and the rise of autocracy
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
in Spain, claiming that they have left a legacy of "moral and political, intellectual devastation". Accusing the left of hypocrisy in regards to democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
. The polemical and politically incorrect
Politically incorrect
The phrase "politically incorrect" may refer to:* Someone or something which does not meet a standard of political correctness* Politically Incorrect, a late-night U.S. political talk show* Politically Incorrect, a German political blog...
nature of Moa's writings have gained him much public attention in Spain and a measure of controversy as a result; his best selling book, Myths of the Civil War, with 150,000 units sold, was a best-seller for six consecutive months.
Early years as a radical
Born during 1946 in VigoVigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
, Galicia, Spain, Moa was a charter member of various Marxist-Leninist and Maoist tendency organisations as a youth, including GRAPO, which was the armed wing of the reconstituted Communist Party of Spain
Communist Party of Spain (Reconstituted)
The Partido Comunista de España , PCE is a Spanish clandestine communist party that broke out from the Communist Party of Spain ....
. It was involved in violent clashes with the government's Movimiento Nacional
Movimiento Nacional
The Movimiento Nacional was the name given to the nationalist inspired mechanism during Francoist rule in Spain, which purported to be the only channel of participation to Spanish public life...
. Moa was present at the murder of a policeman on 1 October 1975, carried out after the execution of two ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
and three FRAP
Frente Revolucionario Antifascista y Patriótico
The Frente Revolucionario Antifascista y Patriótico , sometimes also called Frente Revolucionario Antifascista y Patriota , better known by its acronym FRAP, was a radical Spanish Marxist-Leninist revolutionary organization that operated in the 1970s.-History:FRAP began operating around 1971 in the...
members. Two other members of GRAPO, Enrique Cerdán Calixto and Abelardo Collazo Araújo, were also present; Cerdán shot the police officer. Moa was expelled from GRAPO in 1977, he later recalled this period of his life in About a time and a country, the violent Left.
Intellectual evolution and writing
After the Spanish transition to democracySpanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
his opinions changed towards increasingly conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
positions. He is an outspoken critic of the Spanish political left which he accuses of being the main cause of the Spanish Civil War.
He has also written essays on feminism, marxism, current Spanish politics and an autobiographical book about his experiences in the terrorist group GRAPO. In his books he criticizes strongly Franco's democratic, socialist and nationalist rivals. Moa is
disliked by scholars, such as Paul Preston
Paul Preston
Paul Preston CBE is a British historian and Hispanist, specialized in Spanish history, in particular the Spanish Civil War, which he has studied for more than 30 years....
, Alberto Reig Tapia, Javier Tusell, Justo Serna, Mercedes Yusta, Santos Juliá or Enrique Moradiellos. While disagreeing with many of Moa's theses, historian Stanley G. Payne
Stanley G. Payne
Stanley George Payne is a historian of modern Spain and European Fascism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He retired from full time teaching in 2004 and is currently Professor Emeritus at its Department of History. Payne is one of the most famous modern theorists of fascism...
has praised the work of Pio Moa.
He has been accused of homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
by civil rights groups and of being a defender of Francoism. In an interview in 2008 he openly refused to condemn Franco's dictatorship. However, he declares in his books that he does not defend the dictatorship, but rather criticizes his rivals.
He was the editor of the historical journals Tanteos (1988–1990) and Ayeres (1991–1993) and a librarian at the Ateneo de Madrid
Ateneo de Madrid
The Ateneo de Madrid is a private cultural institution located in the capital of Spain, originally founded in 1835. Its full name is Ateneo Científico, Literario y Artístico de Madrid .-History:The roots of the Athenæum trace to the ideals of Francophiles and liberals of the early 19th...
, a prestigious cultural and literary institute in Madrid, belonging to its board of directors for three years.
He currently writes for right-wing online newspapers such as Libertad Digital
Libertad Digital
Libertad Digital is an advocacy journalism online newspaper edited in Madrid, Spain.Its claims to be classic liberal, with several contributors often tilting to libertarian conservative.- Origins :...
.
Publications
- Los orígenes de la guerra civil española (The origins of the Spanish Civil War)
- Los personajes de la República vistos por ellos mismos (The characters of the [Spanish second] republic as viewed by themselves)
- El derrumbe de la segunda república y la guerra civil (The collapse of the second republic and the civil war)
- Una historia chocante - Los nacionalismos vasco y catalán en la historia contemporánea de España ( A shocking history - basque and catalonian nacionalism within the contemporary history of Spain)
- Los mitos de la Guerra Civil (Myths of the Civil War)
- La sociedad homosexual y otros ensayos (Homosexual society and other essays)
- Años de hierro. España en la posguerra. 1939-1945" (Iron years, Post-war Spain 1939-1945)
- De un tiempo y de un país, La izquierda violenta (1968–1978) (About a time and a country. The violent left 1968-1978)
- Franco - un balance histórico (Franco - a historical assessment)
- Franco para antifranquistas (Franco for antifrancoist)
- 1934: comienza la guerra civil (1934: civil war begins)
- 1936: el asalto final a la república (1936: final assault to the republic)
- Los crímenes de la guerra civil y otras polémicas (The crimes of the civil war and other controversies)
- Nueva Historia de España (New History of Spain)