Societal Modernization in Spain: 1900-1930
The Complex Modernization of Society in Spain (1900-1930)
Demographic Dynamics and Population Redistribution
Between 1900 and 1930, the Spanish population experienced significant growth, increasing from 18,616,630 to 23,667,095 inhabitants. However, in the first decade of the 20th century, this growth was very moderate.
An archaic demographic regime persisted, heavily influenced by natural conditions such as unsafe water and epidemic diseases. These factors hindered population growth, and the only way to overcome them was through emigration.
From the beginning of the 20th century, advances in medicine and healthcare began to reverse this deadly cycle. Mortality rates decreased, and life expectancy increased. Although the country remained primarily rural, rural areas began to experience depopulation. The population tended to move from the center to the periphery of the peninsula and from rural to urban areas.
Strong Social Inequalities
One of the clearest manifestations of social inequality was the high rate of illiteracy. Another disparity was evident between the sexes, as the average illiteracy rate was higher among women.
Society was divided into upper, middle, and lower classes:
- Upper Class: This was a small group composed of the old aristocracy, large landowners, and leaders of the church and the army.
- Middle Class: This group was undergoing modernization and included small and medium-sized rural landowners, as well as professionals like lawyers, doctors, and engineers.
- Lower Class: This constituted the majority of the population. Most were field workers and their families, who lived in poverty and were often illiterate. Their primary solution was emigration. A growing minority sector of the lower class consisted of artisans and industrial workers.
The Rural World
Most of the Spanish working population was employed in the primary sector (fishing, agriculture), and this percentage was even higher in predominantly rural areas. Between 1900 and 1930, the agricultural workforce decreased as emigration from the countryside to the city continued to grow.
Despite modernization efforts, the rural world continued to suffer serious deficits. In the south of Spain, latifundios (large estates belonging to a single owner) dominated, resulting in low yields. In the north, minifundios (small-sized farms that could not sustain a family) were prevalent. Both latifundios and minifundios contributed to migration.
“Islands of Industrialization”
In Southern Europe, the industrialization process lacked sufficient strength. Where industrialization did occur, it often became a specific area within a predominantly agricultural world, leading to what is known as “islands of industrialization.”
In Catalonia, specifically in Barcelona, the most important and oldest industrial area in Spain was located. The textile industry prevailed there, followed by the chemical, mechanical, food, and cement industries. A major innovation was the introduction of electricity and metallurgy.
The Basque Country already had a powerful iron, coal, and siderometallurgical industry. A branch of industry present in both areas was construction.
There was a shift in economic policy, moving from a free trade approach (advocating for the free exchange of goods and capital without restrictions on exports or imports) to a protectionist approach (aiming to protect the domestic economy from competition from foreign products).