Modernization From Below. The Renewal of the “Caciquismo” and the Mass Politics in the Catalan Cities (1901-1923)

Abstract

This paper has its origin in an essay presented at the International Congress: Modernizing Spain (1898- 1914), which was held at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in April 2006. The approach taken here is that of the social history of politics, focusing on the analysis of political practices and attitudes adopted by the elites leading Catalan parties during the political regime of the Bourbon Restoration. Special emphasis is placed on the resilience of caciquism practices noticeable from 1900 despite the early disintegration of the system known as Turno Pacífico and the unstoppable progress of vote authentication. This new caciquism is referred to as “renewed or restructured caciquism” in the paper, since it coexisted with electoral mobilization and political pluralism –characteristic elements of embryonic democratic politicization– and was underpinned by interest groups providing votes in return for privileges and favours.