I realise that in the grand scheme of things, many post-war governments thought that fascism was preferable to communism. But were these regimes simply tolerated or were they supported by neighbouring countries? What economic and political ties did they have?
I can't really talk about Salazar, but I am currently writing my dissertation on Spain.
By the time of the Spanish Civil War, Spain had not been relevant as a European power since their golden age. Stanley Payne suggests that Franco desired to reform Spain, unlike wider dictatorships in Europe, but still authoritarian rule, with a more centralised basis of power. He told foreign journalist that his regime would most closely resemble that of Portugal. Franco’s own politics were much closer to neo-traditionalism, an ideology that featured traditional values, whilst updating of them with contemporary, and nationalist isolationism. In keeping with a perception of Franco and Phalanxism as non-fascist, Paul Preston made claims in 1993 that Franco “was not a Fascist but much worse”. The Spanish Phalanx was unified together as one, taking Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera’s Partido Natonaliza Fascista (National Fascist Party) and remodelling and unifying it into the Falange Espanola Tradicioanalista (Spanish Traditionalist Phalange). As such this unity, Javier Tussel, argues is what helped nationalist forces in the Civil War. That is not to say that there were not any splits within the nationalist zones. The Phalanx and the supporters of the Carlista movement came to cordial terms but never truly decided upon terms of unification. This caused issues for Franco, although the Carlista party was never considered as much as a threat as the Phalanx. It was only on the 19th of April 1937 that the nationalists properly unified; becoming a fascist (or fascisised) group named Falange Española Traditionalista de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista (Joint National-Syndicalist Offensive of the Traditionalist Spanish Phalanx).
To suggest Franco was fascist would be incorrect. Due to the isolationist nature of Spanish neo-traditionalism it was not overly influenced by the ideas of fascism. Over time Spain, in part due to this isolationism, was largely ignored as its economy meant that it was never a real threat of any kind.
Sources:
Stanley, P., ‘La Politica’ in Franquismo (Madrid 2000) P. 235-246
Carr, R., ‘Las Fuerzas Politicas Nacionales’ in Malefakis, E. (ed) La Guerra Civil Española, (Madrid 2006) P.179-183
Anon, ‘Rebel Leaders Statement’ The Times September 1936.