Spain’s Economic and Social Reforms Under Primo de Rivera (1925-1930)
Spain Under Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1925-1930)
Economic Development and Interventionist Policies
The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, starting in 1925, saw significant economic development driven by an interventionist and protectionist economic policy. The main objectives were to:
- Increase industrial production
- Improve infrastructure
- Modernize the country
These efforts were aided by the favorable international economic climate of the “Roaring Twenties.” Key achievements included:
- Increased industrial production, particularly in steel, cement, and other industries.
- Expansion and modernization of the road and railway networks (state-owned railways were established in 1924).
- Development of river basins to increase irrigated land and hydroelectric power production.
- Encouragement of monopolies like CAMPSA (fuel) and Telefónica (telecommunications).
While this period saw economic expansion, it failed to address underlying structural problems.
The dictatorship showcased its achievements at the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 in Seville and the Barcelona International Exposition.
Social Policy and Labor Relations
The regime aimed to create social peace through a combination of repression and negotiation. Joint committees were established to regulate working conditions and mediate labor conflicts. Primo de Rivera sought support from the moderate wing of the labor movement, particularly the UGT (General Union of Workers). This resulted in the formation of joint committees, a precursor to the labor unions of the Franco era.
Political Reform and the National Consultative Assembly
In 1927, the National Consultative Assembly was created. This body, a precursor to the Francoist Cortes, had only advisory power and no legislative authority. Its members were largely chosen through corporate franchise or directly from the Patriotic Union (established in 1924). A draft constitution was proposed but ultimately failed, demonstrating the difficulty of establishing a new political system.
Growing Opposition and the End of the Dictatorship
The dictatorship’s excessively centralizing policies alienated regional nationalists. The Catalan employers, dissatisfied with the preferential treatment given to the UGT, withdrew their support. Traditional political groups (conservatives and liberals), displaced from power, also sought a return to the pre-1923 regime.
Intellectuals, opposed to the lack of freedom, joined forces with a growing student protest movement, the FUE (Federación Universitaria Escolar), founded in 1927. This led to the closure of universities in Barcelona and Madrid in 1929.
The economic crisis of 1929 severely impacted the Spanish economy, exposing the artificial nature of its development. Unemployment rose, and worsening working conditions led many sectors of the labor movement to openly oppose the regime. Even within the CNT (National Confederation of Labor), a more radical faction emerged, the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation), in 1927.
The army, particularly the artillery corps, also withdrew its support, which was crucial for the dictatorship’s survival. Recognizing the regime’s decline, King Alfonso XIII accepted Primo de Rivera’s resignation on January 30, 1930. Primo de Rivera went into exile and died shortly thereafter. The king appointed General Dámaso Berenguer to form a new government.