The Anarchism

by Anna Georgieva

  Today anarchism has managed to penetrate some of its most important concepts in modern society. There are rare concepts of "assembly", "mutual support", "self", "direct action", "direct democracy", horizontal decision making, control of organizations by the base, "empowerment", the " anti-politicism "... Anarchism reaches the XXI century with a vast history behind it.

  History of anarchism in Spain

  In Spain the history of social rebellion, ie, the popular contempt for lawful authority (the State or the Church) and the authority could be traced to the beginning of time. Numerous samples of companies in default. One of the best examples were the bagaudas in times of the Romans and Visigoths, authentic rural guerrillas formed by deserters from the armies, peasants and poor people excluded from society fighting the establishment. They are a good example of society "guerrilla" that occurred in much of the forests and mountains of Europe for centuries.

  The traditional Iberian village, as Piotr Kropotkin says Mutual Aid had some political autonomy thanks to its isolation from the centers of power. Off the main roads, entire regions remained free of the feudal power of the medieval kingdoms. However, they were not free from the power of the Catholic Church and some feudal lords, but seldom completely independent spent entire decades. The most important social and economic relations of these villages were given by the communal possessions and collective work (common). Forests, pastures and mountain passes of the cattle were exploited in common, roads, bridges, some houses (mountain huts, chapels, warehouses ...), were works of villagers working together. It was not uncommon for mutual aid in the villages to build new houses, take turns caring for livestock or even to help families in their head of household was sick.The remains of this society have come in some areas the twentieth century. The privatization of the commons, known as secularization in the nineteenth century would cause a serious problem in the villages, beginning an era of accelerated impoverishment, and migration from the countryside to the city would cause an excess of cheap labor with which he began the Industrial Revolution the bourgeoisie.

  The French Revolution succeeded in changing social relations in Europe. Their echoes reached the realm of ideas. This revolution down socialism and liberalism that came to Spain in the early decades of the nineteenth century. The first modern anarchist philosopher William Godwin, wrote their summit work (" Disquisition on political justice and its influence on the virtue and happiness of the people ") in 1793, strongly influenced by the Revolution in France. There anarchists of that time were called Enragés, ie, the "angry", the "angry". Their leaders (Jacques Roux, Jean Varlet, Jean Leclerc) were influential in 1793, but ended up being executed under the regime of Robespierre (who liquidated all who were politically on the left). His ideas and practices were virtually ignored for decades.

  During the first decades of the nineteenth century, Spain remained outside the new European ideas. Far from the centers of dissemination of ideas (London, Paris or Berlin) ideas took ages to arrive. The first "socialist" idea come through the works of Fourier. Fourier proposed the creation of a unit of production and consumption, the phalanges or phalansteries based on a comprehensive and self-sufficient cooperatives, as well as the free pursuit of what he called passions individual, which would build a state called harmony . In practice, however, there was only one phalanstery experience in France (failed immediately), plus it was another experience in Spain promoted by Joaquín de Abreu and Orta in Jerez de la Frontera. Abreu, emigrated to France, met Fourier in 1831 and took part in his experimiento of phalanstery in Condé-sur-Vesgres. He returned to Cadiz in 1834, outlined the theories falansterianas in city newspapers. In 1841, one of the disciples of Abreu, Manuel Sagrario of Veloy attempted in Tempul near Jerez, a "harmonious partnership" in an expanse of territory wanted to found a phalanstery. But to raise the capital went to Madrid, to try to convince the government to fund it. By denying support this project aborted. The Andalusian falansterism was dismissed as "socialism gentlemen" for its excessive paternalism and social origin of its promoters. Another foray into Spain of a libertarian socialist idea, was that of the Icarian. Based on the ideas of Étienne Cabet, prentendían establishing egalitarian communes. His works and projects influenced some Spaniards, including Narciso Monturiol, creator of the first submarine.

  For their part, workers began to form the first mutual aid societies . The first is the mutual association of workers in the cotton industry of Barcelona . This mutuality can be dissolved in 1841 by publishing a manifesto demanding the implementation of health insurance and unemployment. It was a clear precedent for unions. Delving into the development of workers' associations would be created in these opening years of progressive biennium (1854-1856), the first labor federation, which was called The Three Kinds of Vapor , textile. But in 1855 a stroke abolished all labor unions except philanthropic mutual aid or under the direct control of the local authority. The aim was to maintain public order was threatened by the strike of the Catalan workers' societies before the so-called "conflict of half an hour." In the textile mills of the time abounded Luddite attacks against the introduction of machinery. But 1855 is considered the first general strike in the history of Spain, as being almost the entire industry concentrated in Barcelona, to stop production of economic activity in the country was paralyzed as a whole.

  "The terms in which the conflict arose were simple. Since early May 1855, four manufacturers had imposed on their workers spinners, apart from the twelve hours on weekdays and nine hours on Saturday, would work half an hour on Saturday afternoon in the weeks in which there was any besides Sunday holiday. The spinners refused and were fired. Shortly thereafter, thirteen other manufacturers followed suit the requirement of the first four ... Employers demanded fifty seven and a half hours, and workers refused to impose this additional half hour. " Source:

  Frenchman Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, would make a synthesis of previous utopian socialist movements, and will add new features that are characteristic of the proletariat began to organize itself, to call federalism or mutualism. Within the federalist movement, Proudhon but chose a radical and clearly socialist federalism. His socialist federalist idea was therefore contrary to that advocated centralism German socialists (Marx, Engels, Lassalle). Francisco Pi (named, in his death, " The wisest of the Federalists, almost an anarchist "by Ricardo Mella), in exile in France widely known the ideas of Proudhon. Translate the books The federal principleand philosophy of progress , which would be the first anarchist books that were written in Castilian. When Pi founded his federal republican party, it will have a radical federalist faction, called the "intransigent", including several activists who would later would anarchism. Anarchism often attracted people from the radical bourgeoisie, and throughout the following decades many Republicans and masons will be approaching these ideas.

  Other factors of discontent in Spain were giving rise to the anticlericalism of the large power of the Catholic Church in the Spanish, society or social banditry, because of the harassment to which he was subjected rural areas, for example. Also abounded during the nineteenth century peasant uprisings due to the harsh living conditions in the Andalusian countryside, such as El Arahal (1857) or Loja (1861). In these cases had nothing to do with an anarchist agitation, since it does not exist, but there were clear explosions of discontent.

  The first decades, XIX Century

  The International I, 1868-1874

  The "modern" Anarchism is introduced in Spain in 1868. Giuseppe Fanelli arrived in Spain that year with a mission to recruit members for the First International (founded in 1864), and eventually organize a section in Spain.Fanelli turn was in contact with the newly formed Alliance of Mikhail Bakunin. However, the International was already controlled by the group of Karl Marx, who dominated the General Council in London. When the Alliance wants to join the International as an organization is being denied on the grounds that the sections should be based on the territories, not ideological tendencies.

  Fanelli spoke only in French and I
talian, so the present could understand very little of what he was saying. Of all these, a man, Tomás González Morago knew some French. Yet the passion that was expressed Fanelli managed to convince and enthuse locals. Anselmo Lorenzo realized his speech:

  "His voice had a metallic tone and was susceptible to all appropriate for what he was saying, scooting intonations of anger and threat against tyrants and exploiters comforting to become pitiful and inflections ... we could understand their expressive mime and follow his speech. "

  Anselmo Lorenzo. The militant proletariat

  These workers would become the core of the International in Spain, dedicated since then to extend "the idea" for Spain. Fanelli, it is unknown whether on purpose or by mistake, provided the bylaws of the Alliance as being those of the International. The first group of internationalists would be established in Spain Madrid. After months of meetings, rallies and debates managed to attract quite a following. They laid the foundations for the creation of the embryo of a union. By 1870 the Madrid section of the International had 2000 members.

  As in Madrid, the international soon take root in Barcelona. Fanelli also make a presentation of the International in this city. Barcelona, industrial and proletarian city was then a stronghold of federal republicanism. Even the workers were strongly imbued with these ideas. But the city was a stronghold of the revolt of the proletariat, the Luddism, and the first unions. As said before, the city had suffered several revolts in progressive biennium 1854-1856. Were also frequent revolts against compulsory recruits for the army, the fifth . In 1869 he created a section of the International in Barcelona.

  These two centers internationalist activity continued to expand their ideas elsewhere. Anarchism soon take root throughout the peninsula, especially in Valencia, Andalusia and Galicia. The first anarchist newspapers wereThe Federation (Barcelona), created in 1869, Emancipation (Madrid), created in 1871 and would be the unofficial newspaper of the International, that after the arrival of Paul Lafargue but chose Marxism and The Damned (also in Madrid), directed by Tomas Gonzalez Morago to be devoted to counter the above, and would be the first anarchist newspaper in Spain.

  One of the most important events in those years was the Congress 1870 in Barcelona. It was the first Spanish-scale congress brought together delegates from some 150 labor organizations, and included thousands of observers (" occupying every chair, filling the corridors and esparramados beyond the entrance , "according to Murray Bookchin). Here the Spanish section of the International was reconstituted as the Spanish Regional Federation (also known simply as the Spanish Federation). The structure of the organization, which ended up being more like a labor union to a party (as in other parts of Europe) was also decided on it. The conference had a clear anarchist tinge despite the presence of non-members of the International anarchists from other European nations. He was treated with disdain by the media and political parties. In Congress considered a legitimate means of exchange direct attack on the political process and presaged the future power of unions like the CNT.

  Conflicts at the International labor flows between different (between supporters of Marx and Bakunin, especially) also peppered the Spanish Federation. Paul Lafargue (Marx's son in law), was sent to Spain after the defeat of the Paris Commune in 1871. He settled in Madrid, and soon had a following. Appropriated several committees of the Federation in Madrid as well as the same newspaper, The Emancipation . And of these posts began to defend the need for a labor party in Spain to emancipate the proletariat. Zaragoza was held in the Second Congress of the FRE in May 1872. The new Federal Council took up residence at Valencia.

  In 1872, following an attack of Emancipation against newly elected Federal Council (anarchist trend), the Madrid Federation expelled the pro-socialist group in the organization (including figures such as Pablo Iglesias were). The expelled then constitute the New Madrid Federation was the embryo of the Socialist Party. In the same year, 1872, Mikhail Bakunin was expelled from the International by the Marxists after the conference in The Hague (Netherlands). Anarchists were reorganized in Saint-Imier Congress (Switzerland) and expected to consolidate its power in Italy and Spain. The Spanish Federation worked thereafter without, free from bureaucracy central councils.

  The December 25, 1872 began in Córdoba the III Congress of the FRE , which unanimously approved the opinion of the opposite Commission to the Congress of The Hague (supporter of Marx) and friendly Saint-Imier (anarchist). From here, there was what could be termed as the official branch of the two branches of socialism in Spain: Marxist and libertarian. During these years the Spanish Regional Federation grew at a phenomenal pace and became one of the largest sections of the AIT. In 1872 comprised 11,500 members, and in 1873 more than 40,000.

  The problems of the Spanish called revolutionary administration, continued. The King Amadeo I renounced the throne on February 11, 1873. On the same day the Republic was proclaimed. But the revolutionary thrust of the masses and the subsequent reaction of the military made this republic soon contained the seeds of its own self-destruction. For one in northern Carista uprising broke out, and the other on the Mediterranean coast called cantonal Revolution burst. Participate in this revolution quite intermingled with federal internationalist Republicans who led these riots. The most notorious cases were those of Alcoy, Sanlucar de Barrameda or Cadiz (where he participated anarchist Fermín Salvochea) where the rebellion took a more popular aspect. By contrast, in the Canton of Cartagena, which was the symbol of the Cantonal Revolution, did not participate internationalists.

  In the region of Alcoy, workers were asked in 1873 and eight hours of workday. The conflict turned violent when police repressed a demonstration shot, causing the council assault response, the workers taking control of the town. From these facts, the press wrote sensational stories about alleged atrocities that never took place - crucified priests, men in flames, etc.. By mid-year the republic would become Federal Republic, which began to unleash an uncontrolled Republican anti-military movement to the situation (for the military) that the country lived. After the crushing of the Canton of Cartagena, the events of Alcoy and Sanlucar de Barrameda, on January 11, 1874, the International was outlawed. The organization then went underground and disappeared Press. But, even so in June 1874 he was able to celebrate the Fourth Congress of the FRE , in Madrid, who managed to go 48 local federations. At that time the FRE was made by no less than 190 local federations and sections 349 (unions), while in other local constitution feraciones 135 sections and 183 more. The total membership was about 70,000.

  With underground enacted in 1874 came a crisis in FRE due to persecution. But Alliance (bakunista) retook the threads and since 1875 the "county conference" (a region was equivalent to a movement region) held every summer replaced the congress. Since then, the Federal Council took up residence in Barcelona.

  Return to the legality and reorganization

  In 1881 the government led by Mateo Sagasta Práxedes Association passed a law by which the activity of labor organizations were legalized. In September 1881 held the First Congress for the reconstitution of a new labor federation. Again being held at the Circus Theatre of Barcelona, the same scenario that had founded the FRE in 1870. At the congress a new organization based on the principles of the FRE, would be founded theFederation of the Spanish Region (FTRE).

  The FTRE in its new phase grew rapidly and in 1882 held its Second Congress (Seville) in which they had the accession of 663 sections and a total of 57,934 members. The memory of the FRE was between the workers and the implementation of the Federation was it compared to the majority of Marxist organizations (PSOE).

  But throughout history FTRE problems arose that showed a lack of responsiveness, which they caused serious internal discontent. The agricultural situation in Andalusia, where poverty was rampant (and where between 1882 and 1884 broke several peasant revolts) affected the organization. Within the Federation continued legacy FRE tensions between those who defended underground face a public and legal action. With
the excitement came a peasant government persecution. The events of the Black Hand seriously would hit the fragile structure of the organization, triggering a media lynching process, judicial and police repression against FTRE. Although anarchist groups of the area claimed to have nothing to do with the organization and that the evidence was nonexistent (several false witnesses were pressured to declare against the accused and even accepted as evidence a paper found under a stone in the middle of the bush with the list of members of the Black Hand), the state conducted a harsh repression based on four crimes committed in late 1882 and early 1883. The result was 15 peasants condemned to death, of which 7 were executed in Jerez de la Frontera, the June 14, 1884.

  Out of Andalucia organization suffered no persecution, but fear did receive to mark distances on the various supporters groups of armed action and to respond to state violence. In the III Congress of October 1883, in Valencia, declared that "we reject all solidarity with those who have organized or organized for the commission of common crimes ", stating that" the criminal will ever have a place in their ranks " . The III Congress in Valencia marked the final decline of the Federation. Before, during that year, he had convened a secret meeting of dissidents FTRE in January 1883 in Seville, where a secret organization would be: The Disinherited . It is believed that this anarchist revolutionary organization existed until 1886, in Andalusia. This group vindicate armed struggle with all means at its disposal anarchists against the state and its institutions.