The Crisis of Parliamentary Monarchy in Spain: From Social Unrest to the Rise of Dictatorship (1917-1923)
1. The Catalan Question
In the early 20th century, Catalan nationalism was represented by the Lliga Regionalista, led by Prat de la Riba and Cambo. Their goal was to achieve administrative autonomy within the monarchy. However, a serious incident occurred when army officers, angered by a cartoon in the satirical magazine Cu-Cut, stormed its offices. This led to the approval of the Law of Jurisdictions (1906), which gave military courts jurisdiction over crimes against the country and the army. In response, Catalan political forces formed Solidaritat Catalana, a coalition of anti-monarchist parties ranging from Republicans to Carlists.
2. The Rise of Alejandro Lerroux
Not all Republicans supported Solidaritat Catalana. Alejandro Lerroux, a populist anti-monarchist, gained a following among Barcelona’s working class with his fiery anti-clericalism and revolutionary rhetoric. Lerroux, who opposed Catalan nationalism, formed the Radical Republican Party. He played a significant role in the events leading up to the Tragic Week.
3. The Labor Movement
Catalan unionism, influenced by anarchism, embraced the general strike as a tool for social change. In 1907, the Solidaridad Obrera, a federation of trade unions, was formed. The socialist UGT union, a minority in Catalonia, was hesitant about general strikes. The strong anarchist influence within the labor movement contributed to the potential for unrest in Catalonia.
4. The Escalation of Militarism
The 1906 Law of Jurisdictions and the introduction of conscription quotas fueled resentment towards the military. The immediate trigger for the Tragic Week was the disastrous Battle of Annual in Morocco, which resulted in heavy Spanish casualties. The government’s decision to send reservists from Barcelona to Morocco sparked protests and a general strike organized by socialists and anarchists. The government responded with arrests and press censorship. News of the military disaster further inflamed the situation in Barcelona, leading to attacks on religious buildings and the erection of barricades. The military declared a state of war, and a week of violence ensued (July 26-31), resulting in over 100 deaths. A harsh crackdown followed, with mass arrests and executions, including that of the anarchist educator Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia. The execution of Ferrer i Guàrdia sparked outrage across Europe and intensified opposition to the government.
Socio-Economic Crisis
The First World War exacerbated Spain’s economic woes. Post-war inflation and reduced demand led to business closures, unemployment, and wage cuts. The growth of trade unions during the war gave way to confrontation as employers took a hard line against labor demands. The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution further radicalized the labor movement, with Russia becoming a source of inspiration for Spanish workers. Social unrest spread, with strikes and protests erupting across the country, particularly in Catalonia and Andalusia. The government’s limited social reforms did little to quell the unrest. The rise of the anarchist CNT in Catalonia and the growth of the UGT heightened tensions. Employers responded with lockouts, blacklists, and violence, often with the complicity of the authorities. The period was marked by assassinations, bombings, and a climate of fear.
Conclusion: The Failure of the Parliamentary Monarchy (1917-1923)
The period between 1917 and 1923 witnessed the decline of the parliamentary monarchy in Spain. Ineffective governments, political instability, social unrest, and the disaster in Morocco weakened the regime. Attempts to reform the system through constitutional changes, regional autonomy, and secularization failed due to political divisions. The Russian Revolution further polarized Spanish society, emboldening republicans and alarming conservatives. The growing clamor for an authoritarian solution culminated in General Miguel Primo de Rivera’s coup in 1923, which ushered in a dictatorship with the approval of King Alfonso XIII. The coup marked the collapse of the old system and the demise of the monarchy itself.