El caciquismo político en la Cataluña de la Restauración. El caso de Manresa, 1875-1923

Abstract

The political caciquismo in the Catalonia of the Restoration. The case of Manresa, 1875-1923

The purpose of this article is to deal with a subject that has been scarcely studied in the Catalan historiography: the slow transition from liberal regimes to democracy. This phenomenon is analysed through a case study — the political system of the town of Manresa (Catalonia, Spain), regarded as an archetype of the medium-sized town of the urban industrial fabric of Catalonia during the Bourbon Restoration (1875-1923). The empirical study conducted in this local framework enables us to define a transition model from elite to mass politics that may be extrapolated to other Catalan towns of a similar size. This model combines different elements, among which the following should be underlined: the progress of representative vote; the development of mass politics and a certain political pluralism; the capacity for mobilization demonstrated by political Catholicism; the importance of cliental relationships and the emergence of a new-style cliental patronage, connected with party interests.

Received:  15-09-2005