Salvador Abascal
Encyclopedia
Salvador Abascal was a Mexican
politician and leading exponent of Mexican synarchism. For a time the leader of the National Synarchist Union
(UNS), Abascal represented the orthodox Catholic
tendency within the movement.
into a landowning family, Abascal was the fourth of eleven children. Partly educated at a seminary
, Abascal was sympathetic to the Cristeros
from an early age. Indeed his father was a member of the Popular Union, the Cristero party. As a result of these sympathies Abascal passed through a variety of Roman Catholic counterrevolutionary
organisations during the 1930s.
, before taking full charge of the movement in 1940 when it was at its peak with 500,000 members. Accused of Nazism
by opponents, he officially denounced the system, although he was noted for his anti-Semitism
. He was also noted for his opposition to electoral politics and rejected any attempts to convert the UNS into a political party
. Instead Abascal called for 'Catholic social order' as the antithesis to his twomost hated ideologies - Marxism
and liberal democracy
- both of which he felt were closely related. He also resisted attempts by Manuel Gómez Morín
to fuse the UNS with the National Action Party
in 1939 as a result of these convictions.
in 1941 and left to set up a sinarquista commune in Baja California
. The colony, known as Maria Auxiliadora, was initially made up of some 86 families (450 people). It has been claimed that Abascal, who stated that he was inspired by God
and Thomas Aquinas
in his actions, was driven by Millenarianism
in leading his followers into what was a hostile desert climate. However the scheme proved unsuccessful, and by 1944, Abascal had been expelled from the sinarquista movement for clashing with its leadership over the failure of the colonisation.
in 1955 (although he declined the offer). Increasinlgy drawn towards integrism
, he set up the publishing house Editorial la Tradition in the late 1970s to produce works on this subject, as well as his memoirs Mis Recuerdos.
His son, the late Carlos Abascal, was the Secretary of the Interior
in the government of Vicente Fox
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
politician and leading exponent of Mexican synarchism. For a time the leader of the National Synarchist Union
National Synarchist Union
The National Synarchist Union is a Mexican political organization. It was historically a movement of the Roman Catholic extreme right, in some ways akin to clerical fascism and falangism, violently opposed to the leftist and secularist policies of the revolutionary governments that ruled Mexico...
(UNS), Abascal represented the orthodox Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
tendency within the movement.
Background
Born in MoreliaMorelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
into a landowning family, Abascal was the fourth of eleven children. Partly educated at a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, Abascal was sympathetic to the Cristeros
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...
from an early age. Indeed his father was a member of the Popular Union, the Cristero party. As a result of these sympathies Abascal passed through a variety of Roman Catholic counterrevolutionary
Counterrevolutionary
A counter-revolutionary is anyone who opposes a revolution, particularly those who act after a revolution to try to overturn or reverse it, in full or in part...
organisations during the 1930s.
UNS leadership
He was a founder member of the UNS in 1937 and became an organiser in MichoacánMichoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, before taking full charge of the movement in 1940 when it was at its peak with 500,000 members. Accused of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
by opponents, he officially denounced the system, although he was noted for his anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. He was also noted for his opposition to electoral politics and rejected any attempts to convert the UNS into a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. Instead Abascal called for 'Catholic social order' as the antithesis to his twomost hated ideologies - Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and liberal democracy
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
- both of which he felt were closely related. He also resisted attempts by Manuel Gómez Morín
Manuel Gómez Morín
Manuel Gómez Morín was a Mexican politician. He was a founding member of the National Action Party, and one of its theoreticians...
to fuse the UNS with the National Action Party
National Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
in 1939 as a result of these convictions.
Decline
An unpopular figure with moderates, he was replaced as leader by Manuel Torres BuenoManuel Torres Bueno
Manuel Torres Bueno was a Mexican politician and jefe of the National Synarchist Union. He was aged 30 in 1943.A lawyer by profession, Torres Bueno abandoned his practice in December 1941 to take over as leader of the Union from Salvador Abascal, who had left to start a sinarquista colony in Baja...
in 1941 and left to set up a sinarquista commune in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. The colony, known as Maria Auxiliadora, was initially made up of some 86 families (450 people). It has been claimed that Abascal, who stated that he was inspired by God
God in Christianity
In Christianity, God is the eternal being that created and preserves the universe. God is believed by most Christians to be immanent , while others believe the plan of redemption show he will be immanent later...
and Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
in his actions, was driven by Millenarianism
Millenarianism
Millenarianism is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming major transformation of society, after which all things will be changed, based on a one-thousand-year cycle. The term is more generically used to refer to any belief centered around 1000 year intervals...
in leading his followers into what was a hostile desert climate. However the scheme proved unsuccessful, and by 1944, Abascal had been expelled from the sinarquista movement for clashing with its leadership over the failure of the colonisation.
Later years
He returned in 1947 and became something of a grand old figure in the movement, even being considered as a potential candidate for the presidencyPresident of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
in 1955 (although he declined the offer). Increasinlgy drawn towards integrism
Integrism
Integrism is a term coined in early 20th century polemics within the Catholic Church, especially in France, as an epithet to describe those who opposed the "modernists", who sought to create a synthesis between Christian theology and the liberal philosophy of secular modernity. The term was...
, he set up the publishing house Editorial la Tradition in the late 1970s to produce works on this subject, as well as his memoirs Mis Recuerdos.
His son, the late Carlos Abascal, was the Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior (Mexico)
The Mexican Secretary of the Interior is the head of the Secretariat of the Interior, concerned with the country's internal affairs, the presentation of the president's bills to Congress, their publication and certain issues of national security. The country's main intelligence agency, CISEN,...
in the government of Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
.