Political Crisis in Spain (1902-1923)
General Features of Political Life (1902-1923)
The period from 1902 to 1923 was marked by a permanent political crisis, undermining the system devised by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo twenty-five years earlier. Successive governments failed to overcome this crisis due to several factors:
Causes of the Crisis
- The King’s Personality: Alfonso XIII played an active role in politics, unlike his parents. His involvement in government changes and susceptibility to military views proved decisive in the monarchy’s eventual downfall.
- Party Divisions: The deaths of historical leaders like Cánovas del Castillo and Práxedes Mateo Sagasta caused divisions within parties. New leaders struggled for control, creating internal conflicts that prevented strong leadership from emerging.
- Corrupt Political System: Key institutions like municipalities and parliament did not truly represent the people, and elections were rigged. Despite the democratic model, the alternation of parties was artificial, possibly due to a less politicized society.
- Loss of Caciquismo Influence: The manipulation of rural voters weakened, impacting the electoral machinery and parliamentary majorities.
- Rise of New Political Parties: Socialists, Radicals, Republicans, and Nationalists (especially in Catalonia) gained electoral strength, creating tensions with the central government.
- Labor Movement Opposition: Economic backwardness, unjust wealth distribution, and the demands of workers led to a radicalized society.
- Resurgence of Clerical and Military Issues: Long-latent issues, particularly military concerns in Morocco, resurfaced, creating significant conflicts.
The Crisis of 1917
The crisis of 1917 unfolded in three stages, with military personnel, politicians, and workers all playing key roles.
The Military Movement
Discontent among military officers serving in Morocco over privileges and promotions led to the formation of juntas. These groups demanded improvements, causing the fall of the Liberal government led by García Prieto and the rise of the Conservative Eduardo Dato. The government yielded to military pressure, enacting the Ley del Ejército (1918), which solidified the army’s role as a guarantor of social order and an active political element.
The Parliamentary Assembly
While parliament remained closed, a group of Catalan and reformist deputies and senators formed the Parliamentary Assembly in Barcelona in February 1917. With strong popular support, they called for government change and the convening of Constituent Cortes. The government ignored their reform demands, increasing distrust and fueling the juntas movement.
The Labor Movement and the General Strike
Rising prices, scarcity, and government inaction led to increased social unrest. In August 1917, the UGT, CNT, PSOE, and some Republicans called for a general strike. This strike had both economic (wage and working hour demands) and political (government change) goals. The strike spread nationwide, and the government responded harshly, deploying troops and clashing with pickets. The resulting casualties and arrests, including strike committee members Julián Besteiro and Francisco Largo Caballero, further escalated the crisis.
Implications of the 1917 Crisis
The events of August 1917 demonstrated the mobilization capacity of unions. The threat to social order led to a shift in the juntas movement, with officers supporting repression and abandoning reform efforts. The crisis also triggered a government change, with Dato’s resignation and the formation of a coalition government including Catalans. However, the Parliamentarians’ demands were not addressed in the new government’s program.