Death is in the Air: Bombings in Catalonia, 1936-1939

Abstract

This article analyzes variation in bombings during conventionally fought
civil wars. It establishes a number of hypotheses based on a theoretical framework
that emphasizes the role of political factors in accounting for violence.
In addition, it takes into account emotional factors such as citizens’
revenge aspirations. The hypotheses are tested with data on bombings
perpetrated by the Francoist side in 1,062 municipalities of Catalonia during
the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The results confi rm that the aerial strikes
are positively related to local political support for the rival group in the prewar
democratic elections, as well as to executions perpetrated by the rival
group during the war. The former is consistent with the political hypothesis;
the latter is consistent with the revenge hypothesis.