Spain’s 1917-1923 Crisis: Military, Politics, Society
The Military, Social, and Political Crisis in Spain (1917-1923)
The Military Crisis and Social Policy: The rise of social conflict and the deterioration of Spanish political life since 1913 led to a military crisis and impacted social policy.
The Military Crisis: The Boards of Defense
The army, seeking to maintain the monarchy, intervened in political unrest stemming from the internal defeat of 1898. The causes of this crisis were diverse:
- Governmental instability.
- A new law established war merit, benefiting the army in Morocco but discriminating against mainland units.
- Low wages due to inflation caused by the impact of World War I.
The state supported the defense boards, a sort of association defending the economic and professional interests of military bodies.
The Political Crisis: The Assembly of Parliamentarians
Prime Minister Eduardo Dato decreed press censorship and the suspension of constitutional guarantees. Francesc Cambó, leader of the Regionalist League, created the Assembly of Parliamentarians in 1917. Only the left-wing opposition and some liberals attended. This assembly demanded the reopening of the courts and a reformist agenda.
The Social Crisis: The General Strike
The tense social situation and the growing importance of trade unions favored the creation of a joint action committee by the CNT and UGT. Despite differences between socialist and anarchist drivers of social revolution, the extension of a railway conflict led to a general strike on August 13, 1917, demanding political change.
The Failure of the System (1917-1923)
Dato, who had returned to form the government in 1917 at the behest of the King, managed to control the crisis that year. He was backed by the army and the reformist bourgeoisie of the Parliamentary Assembly. Despite this support, the system demonstrated an inability to broaden its social base and open up to democratic transformation.
Attempts at Reform and Continued Instability
The first attempt at reform was the proposed system of coalition government by the monarch after Dato’s resignation. Executives were formed by conservative and liberal members of the League. For the first time, the bipartisan alliance of the liberal-conservative oligarchy was broken; it was a desperate attempt to maintain the dominant bloc.
Given the failure of coalition governments, the turn-based system returned, but the system’s inability to win majorities remained, hindering political management.
Political Failure and the Road to Military Coup
The political failure of this period is evident in the fact that between 1918 and 1923, there were 13 governments. The military made governmental changes according to its interests, with the support of Alfonso XIII, who regarded the army as a means to maintain the system. Besides, the governments failed to tackle the social problems caused by worker and autonomist demands.
The last attempt to save the constitutional system was the creation of a new coalition government headed by liberal García Prieto, which projected the reform of the constitution, the economy, and Moroccan politics. However, the Army was convinced of the impossibility of solving the crisis that shook the country and decided to end the Restoration system through a military coup.