Anarchist Syndicato in Casas Viejas

Anarchism is a political philosophy, which is against hierarchy rather than being anti-govermental. Because, hierarchy is an institutional structure that contains authority. Anarchists, by the definition, are against the state, but, because of the hierarchy have reached the most advanced form in the state, it will be an inadequate description alone. Therefore, anarchism is a political theory that aims to create a society which is without political, economic or social hierarchies. Also it was created in, and by, the struggle of the oppressed for freedom. Anarchism has traditionally found its chief supporters amongst workers and peasants. Thus we can say that anarchism comes from the fight for liberty and our desires to lead a fully human life, one in which we have time to live, to love and to play.

In order to understand anarchist movement in Spain, we have to examine Spaniards lives, their conditions of living, their education level, their social class, their relations with religion and their political condition. Hence, we can use Mintz’s work as a resource, who is an American anthropologist, spent years with the campesinos of Casas Viejas, getting to know them and be known (and trusted) by them, gathering their testimony and experiences.

First of all, the society was divided in classes and living conditions of workers were inadequate. For example,   for most compesinos, paid working days during the year averaged only 170 to 180 days, roughly six months of employment.(Mintz, 17) An individual worker couldn’t purchase sufficient for his family by his wages alone. In winter plowing, the campesinos earned three reales per day; in the summer their wages doubled… However, a load of bread cost thirty-five centimos, over half of a winter’s daily wage; a liter of milk was fifteen to twenty centimos; a liter of oil cost about fifty centimos. Meat was far too expensive to be purchased (Mintz, 17-18) Neither wages nor the gleanings of wild vegetables and game were...