Spain and Democracy (1966)

Report from the 6th December 1966 issue of the Hackney Gazette

Lecture at Hackney

"Spain’s industrial backwardness was the main factor in her delay in developing political democracy. Nevertheless, Franco's new constitution, though still authoritarian, reflects real changes in economic and social relations resulting from Spain's increased industrial development," said Mr. E. Grant, lecturing recently at Hackney Trades Hall to the Socialist Party of Great Britain's Hackney Branch. 

Spain's former control of South America's gold and silver, he declared, enabled her to buy manufactured goods from other countries with developing industries. Her own industries were therefore neglected and she remained primarily agricultural. Her purchasing power suddenly ending with the breakaway of her American colonies in the early 19th century, she was left with little else. Subsequently, Spain's political history was marked by civil wars and struggles for a republic. By 1900, however, industry had begun in Catalonia and Basque Provinces. Modern towns sprang up and industry advanced during the 20th century. Out of this economic development arose conflict between the Royal Government in Madrid and the industrialists of Barcelona and Bilbao. The Government, to keep prices down, favoured an "open door" policy. The industrialists demanded protection for their new industries. Discontented, they supported militant Catalonian and Basque separatist movements. 

In 1921, nationalist revolts increased in Spanish Morocco. Inefficiently - armed, badly - paid conscripts were poured in. Their sufferings had repercussions at home. In 1931, municipal elections expressed the desire for a republic. The King left Spain and a Republican Government established formal democracy. The Government, however, was slow in encouraging industrial development. Mainly anti-clerical, it antagonised large sections of Church opinion which were amenable to change, thereby losing support of the most influential force in village communities for its programme of agrarian reform. During the Civil War, which left Spain technically crippled, continued the lecturer, the contestants on both sides included opponents of democracy. Franco was wholly supported by monarchist factions and Falangists and the Republican Government by "communists" and anarchists.

MORE SCOPE FOR WORKERS

Spain has been strengthened, since 1950, as a bulwark for American power in Europe. Together with the tremendous influx of money spent by tourists, this has had a tremendous influence on economic progress, producing new industries and extensive electrification. Paradoxically, economic advance in a Fascist setting has provided the potential for development of a working class movement greater than in the past. Movements are appearing among students and workers for free trade unions, political parties and parliamentary elections. The fascist Falange fears that the fruits of the Civil War victory are being filched from them and that a form of capitalism which they did not favour will emerge. 

Mr. Grant said that Franco's demand for Gibraltar is an astute move to unify ail Spanish factions by appealing to nationalist sentiment, and concluded:

"Political democracy, according to Capitalism's needs, exists in greater or lesser measure. The term is now applied even to forms of government far from democratic. For the Socialist movement, the greater the extent to which freedom of speech, organisation and Press is allowed, the better. But democracy itself cannot solve working class problems. This requires the replacement of Capitalism by World Socialism,; for which purpose political democracy used with Socialist understanding is invaluable. Real and : lasting democracy, however, can result only from the establishment of Socialist society."