SER Historia – "Niceto Alcalá Zamora y la República"

Date: September 25, 2024
Host: Nacho, SER Podcast
Guest: Javier Arjona (historian, author of Niceto Alcalá Zamora, el hombre que soñó con la República)

Overview

This episode of SER Historia centers on the complex and often overlooked figure of Niceto Alcalá Zamora, the first President of the Second Spanish Republic. The discussion with historian Javier Arjona aims to shed light on Alcalá Zamora’s life, political evolution, principles, and the misunderstood legacies that still surround his role during one of Spain’s most turbulent eras. Through anecdotes, analysis, and direct insights from Arjona’s latest book, listeners get a nuanced portrait of an honest moderate who dreamt of a democratic Spain—and suffered for it.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Alcalá Zamora’s Political Trajectory and Character

• Fluid Political affiliations:

  • Started as a monarchist, later became a key Republican leader.
  • "No era ningún chaquetero, yo lo veo así en absoluto. Era un hombre profundamente honesto, de principios, muy demócrata."
    —Javier Arjona [02:33]

• Need to Adapt to His Times:

  • Compared to Adolfo Suárez for navigating changing regimes:
  • "Lo hacía de buena fe y con honestidad. La idea de amoldarse a la realidad que tocaba en aquel momento."
    —Nacho [01:33]

• Intellectual Credentials:

  • Child prodigy, finished law at 17.
  • Member of three royal academies.
  • "Es un personaje al que quizá no se le ha reconocido todo ese bagaje intelectual."
    —Javier Arjona [03:39]

2. An Overlooked Legacy: Why Was Alcalá Zamora Forgotten?

• Marginality Post-Civil War:

  • "Queda en terreno de nadie." Because he was too moderate, both sides disowned him.
  • Refused help from the Republic in exile, quietly lived in Argentina.
  • "La figura de Alcalá Zamora es un personaje que queda en tierra de nadie y por eso se le ha olvidado un poco."
    —Javier Arjona [04:30]

• Impact of Franco’s Dictatorship:

  • Forty years of dictatorship created a historical blackout for figures like him.
  • "Incómodo, claro, efectivamente."
    —Nacho [04:52]

3. From Monarchy to Republic: The Historical Transition

• Initial Support for Primo de Rivera:

  • Gave the dictatorship a chance, expecting a brief period of reform.
  • When the dictatorship dragged on, he moved towards republicanism seeing it as the only way to restore democracy.
  • "No es que se convierta al republicanismo, es que él entiende que es la única solución para que España volviera a la senda constitucional."
    —Javier Arjona [02:33]

• Leading the Transition:

  • Headed the "revolutionary" movement, which was largely peaceful, with Miguel Maura.
  • "Acabará encabezando a partir de 1930... un movimiento revolucionario... un tránsito muy pacífico."
    —Javier Arjona [05:56]

4. Breaking Political Stereotypes

• Republicanism and Catholicism:

  • Alcalá Zamora’s deep Catholic faith often puzzled contemporaries and later generations.
  • "No entendían que un republicano pudiera tener esas raíces católicas, esas raíces conservadoras. Conservadoras. Fue un poco lo que le perdió en la memoria."
    —Javier Arjona [14:18]

• Misconceptions about Republicanism:

  • "Somos un país de estereotipos... Tonterías que parece que nos encasillan."
    —Javier Arjona [07:20]
  • Nacho shares a personal anecdote about finding religious imagery among executed republicans, challenging the ‘anticlerical’ label. [07:31]

5. The Diaries of Alcalá Zamora: A Lost and Found Legacy

• History of the Diaries:

  • Written throughout his high-level political career, hidden in a security box during the Civil War.
  • Seized by Azaña’s government to prevent their publication; only rediscovered years later.
  • "Son unos diarios muy interesantes porque aportan una información de primera mano del momento en que él escribió todo aquello."
    —Javier Arjona [08:35]

• Value Compared to Later Memoirs:

  • Diaries offer immediate, unfiltered insight that contrasts with reflective, perhaps more cautious exile memoirs.

6. Moderation and Political Evolution

• A Visionary Moderate:

  • Arjona states Alcalá Zamora hoped for an inclusive Republic—"una república donde tengan cabida todos, todas las fuerzas políticas, derechas e izquierdas, que sea burguesa, que sea de orden, como la llama él." [10:24]

• Handling the Catalan Question:

  • Despite personal centralism, he played a key role in the creation of the Catalan Statute, understanding the need for compromise.
  • "Es uno de los principales impulsores del Estatuto catalán."
    —Javier Arjona [11:32]

7. Exile and Final Years

• Sadness and Principle in Exile:
  • Chose not to return to Francoist Spain despite opportunities, due to lack of democracy.
  • Lived in "bastante escasez de recursos", survived by writing articles abroad.
  • "No puedo volver a una España donde no haya democracia. Y se queda en el exilio y fallece el pobre en el exilio."
    —Javier Arjona [12:48]

8. Contemporary View and Rehabilitation

• Rediscovery and Reassessment:
  • Both right and left now value his integrity and attempt to unite Spain.
  • "Es un personaje que lamentablemente habría estado un poquito olvidado... tanto de derechas como de izquierdas han ensalzado un poco todo lo que él trató de hacer."
    —Javier Arjona [17:04]
  • Emphasized as "personaje clave... para entender esa España complicada de los años 30." [17:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Para España, la del inagotable y misterioso renacer que una vez más podrá asombrar al mundo con el esplendor súbito de sus renacimientos inesperados."
  —Niceto Alcalá Zamora (archival voice) [00:07]

• "No era ningún chaquetero, era un hombre profundamente honesto, de principios, muy demócrata."
  —Javier Arjona [02:33]

• "La figura de Alcalá Zamora es un personaje que queda en tierra de nadie y por eso se le ha olvidado un poco."
  —Javier Arjona [04:30]

• "No existe esa izquierda anticlerical en 1930. Llegará como consecuencia de que la República ya sea proclamada."
  —Javier Arjona [15:36]

• "No puedo volver a una España donde no haya democracia."
  —Javier Arjona, on Alcalá Zamora’s words [12:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:07: Archival voice of Alcalá Zamora, inspiring words about Spain’s resilience.
• 01:33: Introduction of Javier Arjona, author and historian.
• 02:33: Arjona on Alcalá Zamora’s honesty and political principles.
• 04:30: Discussion on why Alcalá Zamora was sidelined post-war.
• 05:34: Role in transition from monarchy to Republic.
• 07:20: Stereotyping of Republicanism and religion.
• 08:35: Story of the stolen and rediscovered diaries.
• 10:24: Alcalá Zamora’s vision for a broad, inclusive republic.
• 11:32: Involvement in Catalan autonomy.
• 12:48: Alcalá Zamora’s principled refusal to return to Francoist Spain.
• 15:36: Challenge to the myth of an anticlerical left bringing the Republic.
• 17:04: Assessment of Alcalá Zamora’s evolving reputation in Spanish memory.

Podcast Tone

The conversation is lively, accessible, and sometimes wry, with both Nacho and Arjona making connections between Spain’s past and present, demystifying common myths, and drawing parallels to contemporary politics. Personal anecdotes and passionate commentary help bring the historical narrative to life, making an intricate period feel relevant and personal.