Spanish Labor Movement: Anarchist-Socialist Split and Reform

Crisis and Split of the Spanish SPA

Paul Lafargue, Karl Marx's son-in-law, arrived in Madrid in 1871 and led the group of Marxist internationalists. Integrated in Madrid by Pablo Iglesias, they spread their ideas through the newspaper La Emancipación. Discrepancies between anarchists and socialists led to the expulsion of the Madrid group from the SPA because most of the organizations were integrated into the anarchist International (AIT). This led to the founding of the new Madrid Federation (of a Marxist character).

Anarchism and Direct Action in Spain

The SPA (anarchist trend) changed its name to the Federation of the Spanish Region Workers (FTRE). This was partly due to the new law prohibiting international organizations. This federation had a greater presence among workers in Andalusia and Catalonia. Anarchism opted for direct action (due to disagreements within the organization and repression of the labor movement). Revolutionaries organized autonomous groups in order to undermine the foundations of capitalism: the state, the Church, and the bourgeoisie. For some years, there were attacks against political figures like Cánovas and Martínez Campos, bombs at the Liceu in Barcelona, and attacks against the Corpus Christi procession. Anarchism was accused of being behind La Mano Negra (a clandestine association to which murders and fires were attributed). Indiscriminate repression against anarchists caused a spiral of violence based on the dynamic of action/repression/action. The key moment of this spiral was the Montjuic trials, where 5 anarchists were sentenced to death. Months later, a division emerged within anarchism between supporters of direct action and those advocating for mass action. Anselmo Lorenzo spoke out against terrorism.

The Rise of Spanish Socialism

The new Madrid Federation of the AIT lasted little longer, as Pablo Iglesias founded the PSOE in 1879. Shortly after, the party published its first weekly, El Socialista. The PSOE was defined as Marxist, a supporter of social revolution. It presented a reform program that included the rights of association, assembly, and demonstration, the prohibition of child labor, and the regulation of working hours, wages, and women's work. In 1889, the Second International (socialist) was created and helped introduce the celebration of Labor Day (May 1st). The General Union of Workers (UGT) was not strictly Marxist but declared freedom of political militancy for its affiliates. The UGT was organized into trade unions in each locality and always practiced a very cautious policy in its claims, resorting to strike only as a last resort (unlike anarcho-syndicalism).

Reformism and the Social Question

In the late nineteenth century, the Spanish government began to regulate economic and labor relations. The first laws were passed regulating dangerous work for children. Work and housing were created for disabled workers. Workers' neighborhoods were built. In 1883, the Social Reform Commission was created to report on working conditions and propose reforms.