How true is it to say that during the period, 1875-1986, continuity is more important than change for an understanding of Spanish history?

Part B. Modern Spain 1875-1986. Coursework

In 1875 there were significant instabilities in Spain, including the conflict between the Conservatives and the Liberals dating back to the early 19th century. The military played an important role, as whenever there were political weaknesses in the organisation of the state there was always an opportunity for military intervention. By the early twentieth century it was far too large and expensive for Spain’s diminished world role and was top heavy with officers. However, it was almost impossible for governments to reduce, reform or disregard it, the army represented Spain’s former greatness. It was also a Spanish tradition for generals and other officers to take political initiatives and establish pronunciamentos.

Spain’s economy was predominately agricultural and more than half the population were employed worked on the land. There were considerable differences in the quality of the land and the efficiency of agricultural across Spain. Areas such as Valencia showed diversification in crop production, others, such as parts of Andalusia, relied on a single crop economy. This uneven development led to the development of a dual economy. Industrialisation was very slow in Spain compared to other European countries, and it was still at its early stages in the 1930s. The crop qualities were very poor compared to that of other countries, which meant they were unable to compete in the European Market.

The Restoration Monarchy between 1875 and 1898 was a system of limited parliamentary government that was drafted by the Spanish Cortes to lay down a basis for greater political instability. The Restoration Monarchy, according to Romero Salvado (Twentieth Century Spain) “represented the most successful and lasting era of social peace and political stability in modern Spanish history” therefore suggesting continuity a more important factor than change in Spanish history.

In 1898 the United States allied with Cuba and declared war on Spain. Spain was humiliated by the outcome of war. Between 1898 and 1923 the regime stumbled from crisis to crisis. The Colonial disaster had devastating effects and was seen, not just as a military setback, but also as a deep psychological trauma. Spain was no longer at the centre of world affairs. In 1906 Spain had an opportunity to partly resurrect her former greatness, as a part of Morocco was acquired by agreement with France. The Moroccan Wars provided a raison d’etre for the army and promoted ...

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During World War 1, Spain remained neutral, which brought economic benefits to the country. The war was a significant turning point because it brought about many changes. However, inflation soon became rampant, and labour unrest increased as they began demanding better wages and working conditions. An alliance was briefly formed, known as the Assembly Movement, comprising Catalan and Basque nationalities, junior officers of the Army of the Interior, and the Socialist party. They attempted to force change upon the regime, nevertheless the Assembly Movement soon broke down due to internal divisions. This movement illustrated that the political system of the Restoration Monarchy was in terminal decline.

The system was no longer able to adapt to the new conditions. As we can see underlying problems made the chances of achieving political consensus almost impossible. There was no social reform programme that could match those in Germany, Britain or France and the system seemed to have been designed to remove the system for popular support.

When Primo de Rivera came to power in 1923, supported by the Catholic Church, he suspended the Constitution, closed the Cortes and banned political parties, setting up instead a Directory of Generals to run the government. Up to 1929 Primo’s regime coincided with a period of relative economic prosperity and so had some achievements such as winning the support of the Socialists and the UGT however his aim of creating political stability and the modernisation of the infrastructure failed due to lack of funding and corruption scandals. By failing to appease key opposition groups Primo’s dictatorship came to an end when he realised he was more of a liability to the country. Primo’s dictatorship demonstrates clearly all the divisive factors in Spain: regional resistance, conservative hostility to change, the existence of anarchists groups, the impact of Socialism, resistance to economic change. Above all the power of the Army was still apparent. The 1923 pronunciamento can be seen as a major turning point as it opened up a search for legitimate government that lasted half a century.

Had a democratic constitution been restored in 1930, the monarchy might have just survived, but by 1931 it was too late. Support for a republic was increasing. The King left Spain suspending ‘the use of his prerogative’ instead of abdicating outright. The army refused to support Alfonso and the transition of power from monarchy to Republic was thus speedy and relatively smooth.

The Left Republic, headed by Azana, brought about many different reforms. The Socialists became the single largest party. The Republic reformed the Church by ending state support within two years and religious orders excluded from education, and so emerged the CEDA. Zamora and Maura opposed this clause, and composition of the government shifted to the left. The Republic offered retirement with full pay and created an internal police force, however, this didn’t resolve the army’s relation with the Republic and they remained to stay anti-Republican. The Left Republic failed as they became over ambitious by trying to address all Spain’s problems. They lacked compromise and alienated their opponents and supporters.

In the autumn of 1933 the CEDA had an opportunity when the existing government ran out of ideas. Azana resigned and many of his successors also failed to form viable governments. In the election of November 1933 the Right won the majority of seats. The Socialists were beginning to panic, having seen what had just happened in Germany when Hitler came to power and so feared a right-wing dictatorship. The Right, having been influenced my Mussolini’s dictatorship in Italy were fearing a Marxist revolution. In 1934 largo Caballero said that if the Republic was to be saved, the road to fascism must be closed, and so when the CEDA entered the Government in October 1934, he planned to seize power to stop fascism. Blood was shed, and Caballero was pushed into a revolutionary stance. This so-called Asturias rising increased the likelihood of civil war.

When the Right republic failed in February 1936, the Popular Front took over from February to July 1936. The left started theorising about a revolution however the right were also planning a counter-revolution, plotting amongst army generals meant a military rising on July 17 1936 against the elected government, suggesting the continuity of military involvement. This led to Civil war lasting until 1939. The Republic failed because it was undermined by the right wing masquerading as parliamentarians.

The Civil War was divided into the nationalists and the republicans. The Nationalists won, they had the experienced army and had foreign support from Italy and Germany sending them money, and also had the support of the Catholic Church. Unlike the Republicans the nationalists had a unifying figure-Franco. The Civil War pushed Spain backwards into a dark age of repression, however it was important in shaping Spanish politics as Spain’s short-lived democracy was replaced by an authoritarian regime under Franco lasting 36 years.

Franco wanted to create an empire and heal the divisions to end the “2 Spain’s”. Although Spain tried to stay pro-axis neutral, they were still associated with fascist powers and so were considered a hostile power by the victors of World War II. Spain was now feeling as they were after the 1898 defeat, suggesting that they hadn’t changed much since then.

By early 1950s Spain was accepted back into the UN and hostility ended this opening to the world unleashed social and economic change, which drew Spain closer to Western Europe. Spain’s growing prosperity did not end social and political unrest and many strikes were continuing during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Franco died in 1975 and so this year can be seen as a turning point as an era had ended and many Spaniards had known no other leader.

From 1975-1986 Spain saw the transition to democracy. The new constitution effectively reversed the movement toward political centralization begun by Ferdinand and Isabella in the 15th Century, and Spain began to redefine itself as a nation of autonomous communities. President Adolfo Suarez introduced important political reforms. When he surprisingly dismissed in 1981, a group of militias tried to take the power with a coup, but failed. In 1982 the socialist party won the elections and Felipe Gonzalez became president of the government. Spain became member of the NATO in 1985 and entered the European Community in 1986. However, significant social issues remained unresolved. Suggesting that the post 1975 transition of democracy wasn’t very different to the period before 1923, and continuity is more important than change for an understanding of Spanish history.

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