Rise of Peripheral Nationalisms in 19th Century Spain

Peripheral Nationalisms

Throughout the nineteenth century in Spain, intellectual and political groups publicly differentiated the characteristics of the peripheral areas of the peninsula from the traditional state unit. These peculiarities were designated with the concepts of regionalism and nationalism, questioning the territorial structure of the state. The state model adopted by Spanish liberalism was centralized and unitary, continuing the model imposed by the Bourbons in the eighteenth-century Decree of Nueva Planta.

Faced with this standardization, a series of peripheral nationalisms arose, opposing it and defending their peculiarities as a people. They posed a new way to see Spain: diverse and multinational. Their origins lie in a cultural response, the presence of unique languages and customs, and the vindication of their use. Cultural renaissance processes extended the use of language and retrieved their history, followed by reactions to the centralized state model of the Restoration governments (administrative and legal). Economic factors were also important, given the dispersed nature, subdivision, and peripheral Spanish industrialization, which led to demands for protectionist economic policies.

Catalan Nationalism

Precedents of Catalan nationalism in the first half of the nineteenth century revolved around the development of the industrial bourgeoisie and the cultural movement that claimed the region's unique language and characteristics. This resulted in dissatisfaction with the centralized policy conducted by the Central Government. During the Revolutionary Sexenio, Catalanism manifested through federalism, with attempts to declare a Catalan federal state in 1873.

With the advent of the Restoration and more marked political centralism, this movement raised various policy proposals, ranging from full independence to decentralization. This was coupled with the defense of industrial interests and the fight for protectionism. With the Restoration, the situation changed, transforming Catalanism into a political movement influenced by Valentí Almirall, founder of the Diari Català. From this newspaper, ideological clarification was undertaken, while advocating for freedom and unity of action for all Catalan cities. Emerging associations of different kinds produced the first document of Catalan protest. An extensive text proposed the formation of Catalan Cortes, the use of Catalan as an official language, and that public offices be occupied only by Catalans. However, this text offered no solutions to current problems and did not detail the implementation process.

During the 1898 crisis, nationalism, particularly Catalan nationalism, saw significant expansion, with Francesc Cambó emerging as a leader. The Catalan bourgeoisie ceased supporting the dynastic parties and began defending moderate Catalanism. Catalan businessmen requested the queen to implement administrative autonomy for the regions and improve corporate representation in Parliament. In 1901, the Regionalist League (representing conservatism and industrialism) won in Catalonia, leading to the decline of dynastic parties in the region. The League presented itself as a party willing to vindicate Catalonia's rights to achieve autonomy within the Spanish State. Cambó even participated in Maura's government. The League later split, with the more left-leaning group forming the Republican Federal Union along with other factions. Other unifying attempts followed, achieving success in the 1906 elections but later disintegrating.