Spanish Labor Movements and Political Upheavals in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
Anarchists and Socialists
Anarchists
In 1881, the Bakuninist Federation of Spanish Workers changed its name. Disagreements within the organization and repression led some to choose direct action against capitalism. Between 1893 and 1897, violent acts resulted in significant repression against anarchism. The rise in violence created a divide between those who supported direct action and those who preferred mass action. The latter group established worker solidarity organizations.
Socialists
In 1888, the General Union of Workers (UGT) was established, significantly influencing Madrid, Vizcaya, and Asturias. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), a Marxist, working-class-oriented party, supported social reform. The PSOE joined the Second International, participated in May Day celebrations in 1890, organized strikes in Vizcaya, gained city council seats, and by 1910 had a deputy. The UGT organized into trade sections, expanding its base and emphasizing adherence to regulations and agreements. It advocated for collective bargaining and strikes.
Social Reformism and the Primo de Rivera Dictatorship
Questioning Social Reformism
Around 1880, the harsh living and working conditions of the working class, including the extensive use of female and child labor, raised awareness of the need for social reform.
The Primo de Rivera Dictatorship
Causes of the Coup
The coup was justified by the perceived discrediting of the constitutional regime, political deadlock, and the threat of social revolution. The inaugural manifesto announced its goal to eliminate corruption and address threats to national unity.
Reorganization of the State
The military directory suspended the constitutional system and dissolved legislative chambers. The Patriotic Union was created to support the dictatorship, drawing members from Catholic officials and rural administrators. From 1925, a policy of collaboration with France led to the successful landing at Al Hoceima, and after several defeats, Abd-el-Krim surrendered in 1926.
Social and Economic Policy
The dictatorship benefited from a positive international economic climate. It stimulated public works and protected national industries through monopolies, such as CAMPSA (phone company). The regime aimed to eliminate social conflicts through state intervention, creating the National Corporate Organization to regulate wages, working conditions, and arbitrate disputes.
Opposition to the Dictatorship
Intellectuals like Unamuno and Ortega y Gasset opposed the dictatorship’s cultural policies. The CNT also opposed the regime but was divided. One faction, aligned with the Iberian Anarchist Federation and the PSOE, favored popular insurrection, leading to conflict in Catalonia.
The Fall of the Dictator
King Alfonso XIII withdrew his support, and Primo de Rivera resigned in January 1930.
The “Dictablanda”
General Berenguer replaced Primo de Rivera, but the slow return to constitutional normality led to this period being called the “soft dictatorship.” Aznar called elections, framed as a vote for or against the monarchy, as Alfonso XIII had been associated with the dictatorship.
Early Social Movements and the Arrival of Internationalism
The First Social Movements
Catalonia’s industrial proletariat and the inequality faced by agricultural workers in Andalusia and Extremadura led to significant unrest. Early trade unions emerged in Catalonia to coordinate actions, with the first national union founded in 1840. These unions formed federations by trade. Unionism saw some development in the 1840s.
The Expansion of Workerism
During the progressive biennium, worker organizations expanded throughout Spain. Government tolerance, unfavorable economic conditions, and rising food prices fueled demands. The first general strike in Barcelona in July 1855, sparked by the introduction of new machines, led to factory assaults. Employers formed a joint committee to negotiate wage increases. In Andalusia, radicalization of peasant movements followed the new disentailment of lands, leading to land occupations in 1855.
The Arrival of Internationalism
Utopianism and Republicanism
Socialist doctrines entered Spain through Cadiz, spreading utopian socialist thought. Joaquín Abreu, a notable figure, advocated for the creation of phalansteries. Utopianism and federal republicanism found support among the middle class and workers.
The First International in Spain
The 1868 September Revolution ushered in democracy and freedoms, allowing worker organizations to operate openly. Socialist and anarchist ideas arrived, forming the first Spanish section of the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA). Giuseppe Fanelli introduced the IWA to Spain, initially spreading Bakuninist ideals. The 1870 Barcelona Congress founded the Spanish Regional Federation of the IWA, advocating for social change through policy reforms.
Crisis and Division in the Regional Federation
Paul Lafargue, Marx’s son-in-law, introduced Marxist theories in Madrid in 1871, leading a group that advocated for the working class’s conquest of political power. This new Madrid-based federation was Marxist, while the broader movement remained largely Bakuninist. Internationalism peaked during the First Republic, with anarchist uprisings contributing to its failure. Following these events, the internationalist movement lost strength.