Spain's Agrarian Reform: Azaña's Vision for the Republic

Context and Document Analysis

This document, titled "The Agrarian Problem," is an economic and political text explaining why the Republican government proposed land reform. It is contained within "Causes of the War of Spain" and was aimed at Spanish society of the time. Its author was Manuel Azaña, Prime Minister of the Republic during the reformist biennium and later president, leading the Popular Front. The central idea of the text is the stark social and economic backwardness of Spain and the proposed solution through the ambitious Republican government's action, particularly the famous land reform.

The Agrarian Problem: An Overview

This large contrast was also seen in the agricultural sector. There were areas of Spain where a single family owned large tracts of land called "estates." By contrast, there were also other areas where land was divided into small pieces called "smallholdings" that sometimes did not even provide for the subsistence of those who worked them.

Establishment of the Republic

In the first paragraph, Azaña explains how the Republic was established in Spain after the exile of King Alfonso XIII, a transition introduced without causing casualties or major damage. It was conducted peacefully because much of Spanish society felt that the Republic would fulfill aspirations and ideas that had been maturing for some time.

Social Injustice and Contrasts

In the second paragraph, Azaña criticizes social injustice and its stark contrasts. Many people lived on the edge of subsistence, with many villages seemingly stalled in the Middle Ages.

The Agrarian Reform Law of 1932

The third paragraph explains Azaña's vision for the Republic's land reform, which aimed to create a class of peasant proprietors and avoid conflicts in the countryside. In 1932, the Agrarian Reform Law was passed, which led to the expropriation of land from the largest landowners in Spain, often without compensation.

Critique of Past Governance

The fourth paragraph concludes with a criticism of previous governments, stating they failed to solve the problems caused by poor land distribution. In this situation, any government aiming for the welfare of its subjects had to undertake a series of reforms, with agrarian reform being the most urgent. Therefore, throughout the text, Azaña endeavors to explain the necessity of this reform.

Conclusion: The Urgency of Reform

Azaña's document clearly articulates the deep-seated agrarian issues in Spain and presents the Republican government's land reform as a crucial, urgent solution to address social inequality and economic backwardness, aiming to foster a more equitable society and prevent further conflict.