Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship: Spain's Authoritarian Era

Primo de Rivera's Dictatorship: An Introduction

On September 13, after some hesitation, Miguel Primo de Rivera initiated a military coup in Spain.

The 1923 Coup: Context and Causes

The coup emerged from a prolonged crisis within the existing political system. Primo de Rivera's authoritarian regime aimed to transform the popular will, and it was widely believed that the coup could not succeed without the consent of various regions.

Causes of the Coup

• External Circumstances:
  • The triumph of revolutionary movements and the general crisis in Europe.
  • The implantation of new political ideologies.
• Internal Circumstances:
  • The decline of the political system.
  • Public disorder and general unrest.
  • The growing prominence of the military.
  • The rise of peripheral nationalism.

Objectives and Nature of the Military Coup

The coup aimed to:

• End the liberal political system.
• Solve the Moroccan problem.
• Combat anti-clericalism and separatism.

Politics of the Primo de Rivera Regime

This dictatorship presented itself as a solution to Spain's problems.

Political Evolution of the Regime

The Military Directory (1923-1925)

Key actions during this period included:

• The establishment of a military dictatorship.
• The suspension of the constitution.
• The dissolution of the Cortes (parliament).
• The creation of the Patriotic Union in 1924, a right-wing, anti-parliamentary political party.
• The dictator governed the country without limits, assuming full responsibility for its administration.

The Civil Directory (1926-1930)

The intention of this phase was to dismantle the foundations of the liberal parliamentary system and replace it with a new model of state. This included:

• The creation of the National Consultative Assembly in 1927, which worked on a draft constitution until 1929.

Regime Relations and Policies

Moroccan Policy

The attack by Abd-el-Krim's troops against the French protectorate area of Morocco was exploited by the regime to gain support and demonstrate military prowess.

Economic Policy: Interventionism

The state adopted a strong interventionist approach, characterized by:

• Increased state control and supervision over productive sectors and economic activity.
• Provision of aid and subsidies to industries.
• Strengthening of tariff protectionism.
• Increased public investment in infrastructure and construction, leading to the creation of state monopolies.

Social Policy: Repression, Pacts, and Paternalism

Alongside international and economic successes, one of the dictatorship's main achievements was social pacification. This was based on a combination of:

• Repressive measures.
• Pacts with certain labor groups.
• Paternalistic social welfare initiatives.
• Creation of partisan committees.
• Implementation of social security programs.
• A crackdown on public order, effectively declaring war on dissent.

Opposition, Fall of the Dictatorship, and End of the Monarchy

Opposition to Primo de Rivera's regime came from various groups, including the dynastic parties, Republicans, Catalan nationalists, and numerous intellectuals. A manifesto in 1928 highlighted the regime's decline, caused by:

• Deteriorating relations with King Alfonso XIII.
• Resurgence of strikes and social conflicts.
• Growing financial difficulties of the state.
• Loss of support from the army.
• The dictator's own illness.

With the loss of all his key supports, Primo de Rivera resigned in January 1930 and went into exile in Paris, where he died in February of the same year. His fall paved the way for the end of the monarchy, which would follow shortly after.