Social Dynamics and Labor Movements in Early 20th Century Spain

The Social Dynamics of the Great War

Renewed Republicanism

Republicanism had entered into decline. This situation changed when the first elections were held by universal male suffrage. The cities were beginning to grow, and popular sectors responded to the call of a new party: the Republican Union.

This success was short-lived due to the rapid reaction of caciquismo, divisions among Republicans, etc. In this scenario of political disorientation, Alejandro Lerroux's Republicanism appeared, which was gaining political prominence. He had his first contact with Barcelona when he had to cover the so-called process of Montjuic, where he criticized the arbitrary actions committed by the authorities. As of 1902, Republicanism became the first force in the Barcelona City Council. Lerrouxism retained as distinguishing features its verbal radicalism, anti-clericalism, and anti-Catalanism. In 1908, Lerroux decided to create his own party, the Radical Republican Party, which had a youth section that often acted violently. In Valencia, there was a movement similar to Lerrouxism (Blanquism).

The Labor Movement

The great industrial progress made during this period led to growth for the mass of workers. Catalonia, and Barcelona in particular, was where the first and most powerful organization of a movement that chose anarchist-inspired syndicalism was conceived. The working class never created a large organization. At the end of the 19th century, anarchist direct action had negative effects on the organized labor movement.

The Socialist Movement

In Barcelona, this Marxist-inspired current established its union, the General Union of Workers (UGT), as Barcelona was the most important working concentration. The number of Catalan affiliates began to decrease until it almost disappeared. The UGT began to consolidate in Madrid, the Basque Country, and Asturias. In these areas, the UGT had expanded quite fast.

Anarcho-syndicalist Movement

The force of repression on the labor movement weakened its organizational structure. Anarcho-syndicalism lost part of its impulse. It also faced strong competition from Lerrouxism. It was not until the Workers' Congress that there were signs of recovery, with the convening of the Second Catalan Workers' Congress, which gave rise to the Solidarity Regional Workers' Federation. Shortly after its birth, it suffered repression. In 1910, it recovered the initiative of convening a conference in Barcelona, from which came the revolutionary trade union General Labor Confederation, which was renamed the National Labor Confederation (CNT). The CNT was the result of the coordination of various unions.