Economic Liberalism, Absolute Monarchy, and Industrial Revolution
Economic Liberalism
Economic liberalism is a political doctrine that supports capitalism as an economic model. Economic thinking had evolved. Mercantilist protectionism from the 17th century was challenged by the ideas of economic liberalism, championed by British thinkers. Its founder, Adam Smith, established these principles:
- Personal interest and the pursuit of maximum profit are the engines of the economy.
- The various interests are regulated by the market due to price, supply, and demand.
- The state
Francoism: Repression, Opposition, and Transition
International Isolation (1945-1950s)
After World War II, the victorious Allied powers considered Francoist Spain a last vestige of fascism. In 1946, Spain was denied entry into the newly formed United Nations (UN). The UN saw the Franco regime as a threat, and there were efforts across Europe to reduce fascist symbols.
The Cold War and Shifting Alliances
The emerging Cold War led to a change in the United States’ stance towards Spain. Due to Spain’s strategic location and anti-communist position,
Read MoreMonarchy Transformations and the Rise of Humanism
Historical Context
Political Transformations: Evolution
From Feudal Monarchy to Authoritarian Monarchy and the Rise of States.
Feudal Monarchy: The feudal monarchy was a political and social system established in medieval Europe. The king granted land (fiefs) to nobles, who became his vassals. In return, nobles provided military and political support. Peasants (serfs) worked the land and paid taxes to the nobles, living under their protection. Free peasants were known as “villains.”
Vassalage System:
Read MoreFrench Revolution: Origins and Early Stages
The Outbreak of the French Revolution (1789-1792)
The Failures of the Old Regime
In France, the Old Regime was destroyed by the French Revolution (1789-1799), which had its origins in the failures of the system:
- Social unrest: The Third Estate, which paid taxes, resented the privileged estates that scarcely paid taxes at all. The wealthy bourgeoisie was also frustrated by its lack of political power.
- The economy: A tax crisis was caused by overspending on the American Revolutionary War. Bad harvests
Decolonization: Causes, Impacts, and Neocolonialism
Implications of Decolonization
The problems of newly independent countries:
- Economic Impoverishment: New nations faced significant economic challenges.
- Social Issues: A lack of healthcare facilities and inadequate educational development hindered progress.
- Political Instability: Politicians attempted to replicate dominant models but often failed, leading to political instability.
- Internal Conflict: Many countries were plagued by internal conflicts due to the formation of heterogeneous nations.
- International
Spanish Civil War: Causes, Stages, and Outcome
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was an armed confrontation between the old dominant groups in Restoration Spain, whose instrument was the army, and emerging groups of bourgeois workers who wanted to establish a truly democratic political system and a progressive social order.
The uprising was launched in Melilla on July 17 by some officers who dominated the senior command and then spread throughout the area of the Moroccan protectorate, while General Franco ensured
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