Mercantilism and Enlightened Despotism in Spain
Mercantilism in Spain
Mercantilism was the prevailing economic system from the mid-seventeenth century until it began shifting towards physiocracy and enlightened despotism in the last third of the century. Mercantilism is characterized by being an interventionist and protectionist system, with the aim of increasing the power of the state, including gold and silver reserves. In Spain, the last ministers of Charles II implemented mercantilist measures in the last decades of the seventeenth century, some of which were copied from the French version known as Colbertism. In the eighteenth century, the ministers of Philip V, in full imitation of French policy, intensified mercantilist protectionism.
Enlightened Despotism
Enlightened despotism is the absolutist political system that corresponds to the Enlightenment. It is the culmination of the enlightened absolute monarchy, characteristic of the Old Regime in the second half of the eighteenth century. The slogan that sums up enlightened despotism is “all for the people, but without the people.” As a rationalistic movement, the Enlightenment’s revolution was an attempt to maintain order and hold the reins of power through education and a host of economic projects. However, it was ultimately broken by the liberal revolution, which emerged from the Enlightenment through rupture.
Projects of the Enlightened Liberals
- The projects were carried out by enlightened liberals.
Economic Society of Friends of the Country
The Economic Societies of Friends of the Country were associations that, in the last third of the eighteenth century, brought together local groups framed within the nobility, clergy, bourgeoisie, and the lower civil service and military. Their purpose was to promote economic activities and, above all, to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment. In 1765, the government approved the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País, based in Azcoitia. It was the only one that accomplished something effective. Ten years later, Campomanes, a strongman of enlightened despotism, promoted their creation in all cities and towns. They were established in over eighty Spanish cities, but they mostly served as social clubs, and by 1786, they were already in decline. The Revolutionary War and the liberal revolution ultimately ended the Economic Societies.