The People and the Nation: Nationalist Mobilization and the Crisis of 1895–98 in Spain

In Spain, as elsewhere in Europe, the nineteenth century was to see the rise of competing and contrasting nationalist ideologies. In the first half of the century nationalist discourses would very much be the prerogative of the liberal ideologues who saw themselves as battling to free the ‘nation’ and the ‘people’ from reactionary government. Yet in parallel with the experience of her neighbours, once nationalism was taken up by the new post-absolutist state as a vehicle through which to legitimize its rule it could easily take on a more conservative air, and become a weapon in the hands of new social elites rather than a battering-ram against privilege.