Spanish Civil War: Article Analysis

In this article, “Patterns of Development and Nationalism: Basque and Catalan Nationalism before the Spanish Civil War”, Juan Diez Medrano analyses the development and rise of nationalism in both the Basque County and Catalonia. Medrano developed two different hypotheses to support his argument. He first argues that, “traditionalist and separatist political nationalism was more intense in the Basque County than in Catalonia because Catalan peasantry and pre-industrial elites were better able to adapt to and benefit from nineteenth-century capitalist industrialization than were the Basque peasantry and pre-industrial elites” (Medrano 544). In addition, Medrano also believes that the degree if traditionalist and separatist political nationalism
Some countries may exhibit a variety of economies, including agricultural and industrial. These economies clearly have different needs and would rely on the government for different things. It is hard for a single government to satisfy the needs of different parts of the economy, and can most likely not make laws that would please all people. This results in anger from parties who feel as though they are not being adequately represented, and civil war can easily break out as a result. As mentioned in the article, economic development can shape nationalism by, “creating constellations of classes and ethnic interests that provide a context for center-periphery relations and for class relations within peripheral regions” (Medrano 542). Medrano also regards the uneven development of a country as mobilizing force to push for advancements to further development. Countries with an uneven economic development can form distinguished communities that have the ability to develop its own culture and identity. This results in nationalism as a form of pride in your community, rather than in your country as a whole. This nationalism results in competition between different parts of a nation, which can result in civil
The Catalan and Basque desire for independence was one of several causes of the Spanish Civil War. Medrano suggests that Catalonia and the Basque Country’s nationalism resulted from the loss of Spanish colonies during the nineteenth century (Medrano 543). After losing these colonies, Spain’s economy suffered and the government created policies in order to restore it. These changes, however, challenged the policies of Catalonia and the Basque Country, which were already distinguished from the rest of Spain. Over the years, these distinguished provinces have developed their own economies, culture, and language. The Spanish attempt to change the economy threatened the stability of these provinces, resulting in a creation of a strong identity of the people living in these areas. Groups in both regions had a different economic and political identity that resulted from a difference in their tools for prosperity; while the Basque Country predominantly thrived from a capital goods industry, Catalonia had a consumer goods industry. The provinces desired independence as the beliefs of the Spanish government began to differ from their own identity. The Basque Country hated Spain and wanted, “independence as a struggle for the religious identity of the Basque race trough complete isolation from other peoples, especially Spaniards. The