Regenerationism in Spain: A Movement for Change
Regenerationism: A Movement for Change in Spain
Regenerationism was a current of opinion, an intellectual and social movement critical of the political system of the Restoration and its political practices. It inspired an entire generation of politicians and thinkers from different tendencies. Born as a result of the crisis of 1898, it was supported by the media. Regenerationism has a social and economic side, a literary aspect (in a group of writers who criticized Spain’s situation, known as the Generation of ’98), and a political dimension (represented by a series of politicians).
Social and Economic Aspects of Regenerationism
Regenerationists analyzed Spain of their time from all points of view, coming to the conclusion that the main evils of the country were:
- The political system of the Restoration, criticizing the chieftaincy and electoral fraud.
- The economic backwardness of Spain.
- The social backwardness of the country, especially illiteracy.
Once these problems were established, they made proposals to regenerate and modernize Spain through certain reforms of the political and socioeconomic system, but without destroying it. The reform proposals were:
- They proposed policy reforms through which elections were to be cleaned, but they failed to propose a true parliamentary and democratic system.
- Land-sharing, but without affecting the properties of the landowning nobility and the bourgeoisie.
- A public works program, including proposals for the construction of hydraulic works.
- Development of an educational program.
- A political action in all aspects aimed at the common good and not for the benefit of the political interests of the oligarchy.
Although they did not form a homogeneous group, we can distinguish between a more conservative and a more progressive Regenerationism. The Regenerationists found their main support in the middle class. The main Regenerationists were Joaquin Costa and Macias Picavea.
The Influence of Regenerationist Ideas
Regenerationist ideas influenced politicians of the early 20th century, such as Francisco Silvela, Antonio Maura of the Conservative Party, and Jose Canalejas of the Liberal Party, heads of government during the early years of the reign of Alfonso XIII. They tried some modernization of the political system through a series of reforms, but they failed to truly democratize it, and the peaceful shift remained during this period.
Francisco Silvela
After the defeat in 1898, the government of Sagasta was discredited, and the Regent commissioned the government to the conservatives, led by Silvela. He intended to meet the debts incurred during the war with tax increases.
The Conservative Antonio Maura
Antonio Maura’s project, which he called the “revolution from above”, was an attempt at regeneration of the system with social support from the so-called “neutral mass.” With the help of the “neutral mass,” he intended to establish a strong state, capable of governing effectively and achieving, ousting the old cacique class, but without genuine democratization to prevent the popular classes from taking center stage.
Reforms Under Maura
- An electoral reform.
- Creation of the National Welfare Institute to regulate the issue of pensions.
- Law of Sunday rest.
The Liberal Jose Canalejas
Jose Canalejas sought the modernization of political life and tried to attract people from certain sectors with social reforms and others that limited the power of the Church.
Reforms Under Canalejas
- Matters of Religion: Canalejas only intended to separate church and state and to reform the procedure for the financing of the Church. However, the Holy See refused any reforms. Then the “Padlock Law” was enacted, prohibiting the installation of new religious orders in Spain for years.
- Social Reforms: The consumption tax was gradually phased out for a progressive tax on urban income. The draft law was amended to be mandatory in times of war.
- A series of laws aimed at improving labor conditions were issued.
- Canalejas’ politics continued to approach Catalan incorporation, which he believed would help to enhance their stability. Thus, he drafted the Commonwealth Act in 1912.