The Political Police of Radical Governments: The Investigation Service Between the Popular Front and the Law for the Permanent Defense of Democracy, 1938-1948

Abstract

This article analyzes the role played by the Investigations Service (Part of the General Directorate of Investigations, Identification and Passports) as political police, from the arrival of the Popular Front to the government until the enactment of the Law for the Permanent Defense of Democracy. Special attention will be paid to the units within this police force that were in charge of monitoring and neutralizing critical situations for internal security. The priorities and developments given by each government to improve this function will be recognized, as well as the conflicts behind these modifications. We suggest that, although these years are considered for their progress in social reforms, they also witnessed important advances for the political police, which continued to shape a repressive apparatus that was key to the existence and integrity of the State and internal order.