The late Francoism dataset: introducing a new dataset of Francoist elites of the Spanish transition

Elites are often considered key in democratic transitions, but we lack a detailed study of what happens to them during democracy. The Spanish transition, frequently cited as a paradigmatic example of top-down transition, is an ideal case for examining elite persistence and transformation. This article introduces the ‘Late Francoism Dataset,’ a new, publicly available resource that documents the professional careers of Francoist elites before and after the country's democratization. The dataset contains individual-level biographical, demographic, political, and professional data for 618 individuals who occupied top positions across more than 250 key institutions during the final decade of the Francoist dictatorship (1965–1975). By enabling a quantitative approach, this dataset allows new analyses of elite continuity and change. Initial research using these data reveals a major divergence in post-transition outcomes: economic elites largely retain their influence, while political elites experience substantial changes. The ‘Late Francoism Dataset’ provides a new tool for scholars interested in studying the Spanish Transition from a micro perspective, moving beyond accepted narratives to empirically investigate the power of authoritarian elites in a new democracy.