To what extent were economic factors a key cause of one 20th-century war?
“It may be argued that political factors were the most important ”
Introduction :
The Spanish Civil war broke out in 1936 after years of political, social and economic
issues which exacerbated the discontent of the population and this ultimately led to a
conflict which lasted 3 years. By 1939, Franco and the right wing party emerged
victorious and by the end of the war, WW2 broke out. The Spanish Civil War was a
complex conflict that pitted Republicans against Nationalists in a struggle for control of
Spain. Triggered by deep-seated socio-political tensions, including class struggles,
regional disparities, and ideological divides, the war unfolded against the backdrop of a
polarised society.
Economic
● Topic : "The economic landscape in Spain before the Spanish Civil War was
characterised by agrarian struggles, and a fragile industrial sector, setting the
stage for economic tensions that would later contribute to the outbreak of the
conflict."
● Industry - towns →
● Agriculture - Primarily an agricultural economy in the countryside
Social and regional
● Topic : “The period preceding the Spanish Civil War was marked by
profound social and regional tensions that simmered throughout the
country, laying the groundwork for the eruption of conflict.”
● Division between wealthy and working class class
● Separatism of Basque and Catalonia
Political
● Topic : “Political turmoil in the pre-Spanish Civil War era was worsened by a
corrupt monarchy and the inherent weaknesses of the government, triggering a
sharp polarisation between right and left ideologies that ultimately set the stage
for the intense conflict that would unfold.”
● Fall of corrupt/inefficient monarchy
● Weakness of the government: 12 gov. between 1919-1923
● Political polarisation - left-right. Anarchy
Conservative forces → Religious + Military
Topic : "Before the Spanish Civil War, conservative forces in Spain were
characterised by a potent alliance between religious institutions and the military,
shaping a complicated socio-political situation where traditional values and
authoritative structures played a major role in influencing the nation's trajectory."
“It may be argued that political factors were the most important ”
Introduction :
The Spanish Civil war broke out in 1936 after years of political, social and economic
issues which exacerbated the discontent of the population and this ultimately led to a
conflict which lasted 3 years. By 1939, Franco and the right wing party emerged
victorious and by the end of the war, WW2 broke out. The Spanish Civil War was a
complex conflict that pitted Republicans against Nationalists in a struggle for control of
Spain. Triggered by deep-seated socio-political tensions, including class struggles,
regional disparities, and ideological divides, the war unfolded against the backdrop of a
polarised society.
Economic
● Topic : "The economic landscape in Spain before the Spanish Civil War was
characterised by agrarian struggles, and a fragile industrial sector, setting the
stage for economic tensions that would later contribute to the outbreak of the
conflict."
● Industry - towns →
● Agriculture - Primarily an agricultural economy in the countryside
Social and regional
● Topic : “The period preceding the Spanish Civil War was marked by
profound social and regional tensions that simmered throughout the
country, laying the groundwork for the eruption of conflict.”
● Division between wealthy and working class class
● Separatism of Basque and Catalonia
Political
● Topic : “Political turmoil in the pre-Spanish Civil War era was worsened by a
corrupt monarchy and the inherent weaknesses of the government, triggering a
sharp polarisation between right and left ideologies that ultimately set the stage
for the intense conflict that would unfold.”
● Fall of corrupt/inefficient monarchy
● Weakness of the government: 12 gov. between 1919-1923
● Political polarisation - left-right. Anarchy
Conservative forces → Religious + Military
Topic : "Before the Spanish Civil War, conservative forces in Spain were
characterised by a potent alliance between religious institutions and the military,
shaping a complicated socio-political situation where traditional values and
authoritative structures played a major role in influencing the nation's trajectory."
