Conservative Reformism Decline in Spain: 1902-1917
The Decline of Conservative Reformism (1902-1917)
Alfonso XIII’s Reign and the Regeneration Attempt
The majority of Alfonso XIII (1902) began with a major crisis caused by the disaster of 1898. This led the dynastic parties (Conservatives and Liberals) to initiate a reform program to regenerate Spanish political life.
The Conservative governments of Silvela-Polavieja and Antonio Maura attempted, until 1909, reforms such as those of the Treasury, local government, and the electoral law. This attempt
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Economy and Society Under Dictatorship
Economy Under Franco
Economic developments can be divided into two periods:
- A period that coincides with the regime’s totalitarian phase, characterized by depression and stagnation.
- A period of economic expansion, facilitated by the Stabilization Plan.
The Civil War brought great devastation and high economic costs. The result was a significant reduction in agricultural and industrial production. Stagnation and economic depression lasted almost 20 years. In contrast, European countries that participated
Read MoreAsian Tigers, Iraq War, Minor Tigers, and China’s Economy
Asian Tigers: Newly Industrializing Countries
The newly industrializing countries (NICs), or “Tigers of Southeast Asia,” represent a unique case of economic development. The first four were: Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. These countries prioritized maximum savings and investment in principal industries for export, long work hours, and strong labor discipline. Taiwan and South Korea, in particular, received military and financial support from the United States. Additionally, they
Read MoreTotal War: WWI and its Devastating Impact
Total War and Its Consequences
The First World War was differentiated by its size and scope. It affected all major world powers, especially Europe. With its beginning came the era of total war: all the resources of a country were intended to obtain victory. The only objective was winning the war. The triumph was to be complete, achieving the unconditional surrender of the entire enemy population.
Social and Economic Consequences
Most countries resorted to a war economy, planned and directed by the
Read MoreSpain’s ‘Disaster’ of 1898: Crisis and Regeneration
The “Disaster” of 1898-1902: Loss of Colonies and its Aftermath
The loss of Spain’s colonies in 1898, known as the “Disaster,” was not an isolated incident in Europe, as other Latin countries experienced similar situations. However, Spain experienced this loss as a catastrophe. The end of the Spanish colonial empire, while traumatic, did not result in a complete national collapse: the monarchy continued, the Treasury was rebalanced after the costs of the colonial war, and the dynastic parties continued
Read MorePolitical Forces in the Spanish Republic: Left, Center, and Right
The Social and Political Forces of the Spanish Republic
The numerous political parties in the Republic can be classified into three groups: left, center, and right.
1.1 The Left
The Bourgeois Left was represented by:
- Republican Action (RA) of Manuel Azaña. It was a small party composed of intellectuals related to their leader. Its philosophy was based on the modernization of the country’s political and social structures on an anti-clerical, educational, and autonomist, anti-military basis. In 1934,