The creation of a new centre for political and economic studies specialising in training elites for positions in the State administration was proposed in the years of the 2nd Republic. It would follow the model of prestigious existing institutions in Paris and London, and in 1932, the Faculty of Law started “Special Economic, Political and Administration Courses”.

After creating several projects within the Institute of Political Studies, the Law of University Order of 29 July 1943 created the Faculty of Political and Economic Sciences at the Complutense University of Madrid, and the Ministerial Orders of 7 September and 29 January 1944 established the guidelines for operating. Classes started on 16 February 1944 and the decree establishing the order of the centre was passed a few months later on 7 July. The first Rector was Fernando María Castiella.

According to the law of 17 July 1953 about Economic and Business Studies, the Faculty became called Political, Economic and Business Sciences as a result of the integration with Advanced Business Studies. The Faculty divided into two in 1971: Political and Social Sciences and Economics and Business Sciences. This led to a significant change as the Economics degree was divided into two branches: General Economics and Business Studies. As a result, Business Studies gained a certain degree of autonomy status that it did not have before.

The three professors that formed the basis of Economic Studies in the early years were Valentín Andrés Álvarez, José Castañeda and Manuel de Torres. A group of professors have given classes from this date until the present day and they have also contributed with publications and participation in the creation of economic policy including the Stabilisation Plan in 1959, the modernisation of the Spanish economy and its integration into Europe. Among these professors it is also worth mentioning those that are absent: Ángel Alcaide Inchausti, Enrique Fuentes Quintana, Luis Ángel Rojo, Alberto Ullastres, José Luis Sampedro and Manuel Varela.

In the early years professors from different academic backgrounds and ideological affiliations joined the Politics Faculty, although they were predominantly Falangist and political Catholic. José Antonio Maravall, Luis Díez del Corral, Carlos Ollero, Luis Garcia de Valdeavellano, Manuel Terán and Antonio Truyol Serra are some of the first professors. In 1953, the first Social Science professor was Enrique Gómez de Arboleya.

The Faculty has had three locations. From its opening until 1965, it was in the old San Bernardo mansion. From 1965 to 1969, it was in a building in the university city that is now home to the Faculty of Geography and History. Then, the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies moved to the Somosaguas Campus and the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences moved to the the building that currently houses the Faculty of Statistics in the university city. Both faculties are currently on the Somosaguas Campus.

Mercedes Gutiérrez, Estrella Trincado and Luis Perdices de Blas

 

Go to The University during the Franco regime

Go to the website for the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences 

Go to the website for the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies