Spanish Imperial Power at the end of World War I Essay

Spanish Imperial Power at the end of World War I - Essay ExampleBy twentieth century Spain was in the full swing of economical modernisation. A national network of railroads linked Spains cities and provincial capitals, and Spain was attached with the rest of the Europe. Because for its main lines Spain used a wider gauge track than France did, at places wish Irun and Port Bou on the frontier, passengers and goods had to change their trains. Within Spain, the railroads overcame geographic barriers that had forever frustrate the development of a national economy. Steamships increased maritime commerce, both along Spains coasts and with foreign ports. Spain exported citrus fruit, wine, olive oil, and the products of its mines, including coal and iron ore from the north and copper from the Rio Tinto. As manufacturing grew, stimulated by the spread of rails, iron ore soon headed for Spanish mills. (Pierson, 1999, p. 118)The outbreak of the First World War where on one hand resulted i n the economic and social barriers like food shortages, economic dislocation and social distress, on the other hand Spain which at time considered to be the vanguard among its affiliate like Britain and France, experienced as much of the effects of the conflict as the other European states. Her official impartiality could hardly hide the intensity of the debate mingled with the supporters of the Central Powers and those of the Allies, nor could it check the increasing militancy and ideological awareness produced by the impact of the war on the daily lives of the Spaniards. Having rested so far on the political apathy of most Spaniards, the Restoration system entered a period of crisis a crisis of domination produced by the inability of the governing elites to face successfully the arriver of mass politics and its subsequent challenge to clientelism and patronage as a source of power. (Salvado, 1999, p. 5)Pierson writes, In August 1914 most of Europe went to war. Spain did not. He ld in low treasure as a military and naval power, Spain was part of no alliance system, nor was there any sentiment in Spain that it should be. What international difficulties it had with France over the establishment of a French protectorate over most of Morocco had been settled in 1913 through diplomacy. (Pierson, 1999, p. 124)Spanish Dual AttitudeOne of the main causes for Spains hypocrite or neutral attitude was the weakening of her political and social recognition along with no growth in the context of economic reforms. Military was also unstructured and depicted a poor economic reserve for instability. Under such conditions Spain had no choice other than to adopt a neutral behavior towards its allies and rivals. Furthermore, the dispute in Europe was not regarded as affecting Spanish interests, while there was always the hope that by maintaining an impartial position Spain could breeze the leading role in organising a peace summit and therefore gain in the diplomatic field what could never be achieved on the battlefield. (Salvado, 1999, p. 6) airstream EconomyThe repercussions of the First World War on Spain were dramatic in a sense that able