Spain’s ‘Revolution from Above’: Maura and Canalejas Era
The “Revolution from Above”: Maura and Canalejas’s Reforms
With some nuances, Maura and Canalejas shared a common purpose, albeit with different programs. They sought to transform the political system from the top down, led by those at the helm of the Liberal and Conservative parties.
The Liberal Party: From Clientelism to Ideological Blurring
The Liberal Party had historically been characterized by its focus on clientelism and regional interests. Following Canalejas’s death, the party’s ideological content became increasingly blurred. The Count of Romanones replaced Canalejas, raising the question of how the political system should be restored to allow the Conservatives new access to power. The King had previously supported the Liberals, as the party appeared united behind the program implemented by Canalejas.
Maura’s Stance and Conservative Party Divisions
Maura reacted violently to the King and the Liberals when he was denied access to power. He did not support the monarch’s moderating and arbitration role, believing that a true political system alteration was needed to ensure his party had the majority opinion in its favor. Maura’s intervention incensed liberal opinion, and many conservatives began to feel uncomfortable with his leadership. Eduardo Dato had distanced himself from Maura in 1911. However, the final division of the Conservative Party would not occur until after the Liberal Party’s split, whose motives were more prosaic.
The Liberal Party’s Split and Romanones’s Challenges
Romanones, in his initial stage of government, was not seen as Canalejas’s natural successor, despite attempting to use his program. He lacked the strength and authority within his own party, unlike Canalejas, being much more interested in reaching the presidency. During his tenure, he presented the project for the creation of Provincial Associations in the Senate (a project Canalejas had left unfinished). However, his defense of it in the upper house was so poor that even one-third of the votes against it came from his own party. In the summer of 1913, the party split was consummated when Montero Ríos and García Prieto created the Liberal Democrat Party, dragging a significant number of parliamentarians with them.
Conservative Leadership and Ideological Shift (1902-1914)
This period saw a potential shift in leadership within the Conservative Party, though it was unclear who would become president as Maura had lost his authority. In October 1913, the King called Eduardo Dato to power, who had always maintained a friendly attitude towards Maura. Most of the party accepted Dato as their leader. It is worth noting that during Dato’s government, sectors that Maura had attracted, particularly Catholics, led the Conservative Party to adopt a more clerical tone. Unlike other political groups of the time, the Conservatives under Dato managed to attract an active youth, develop Catholic ideological propaganda, and even establish religious workers’ circles. In fact, the “neutral mass” Maura had wanted to appeal to primarily consisted of conservative Catholics, though he struggled to modernize them.
Legacy of the “Revolution from Above”
Thereafter, Spanish politics largely focused on resolving problems arising from immediate circumstances, rather than pursuing comprehensive regenerative programs. This shift occurred because the “Revolution from Above” had limited effect, primarily due to the very assumptions of the regenerative approach itself.