Mercedes Cabrera is Professor of History at the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology, at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Spain. Her publications include a book on the organizations of Spanish entrepreneurs in the 1930s, La patronal ante la Segunda República 1931-1936 (1983), a biography of the Spanish entrepreneur Nicolás María de Urgoiti (1869-1951), La industria, la prensa y la política (1994), and the most recent, as coauthor, on the relationship between politics and economy in contemporary Spain (1875-2000): El poder de los empresarios (2002).

“Truly an extraordinary contribution to the history of Spain.” • Juan J. Linz, Sterling Professor of Political and Social Sciences, Yale University

• IntroductionChapter 1. Capitalist Consolidation and the Crisis of Liberalism, 1914-1923Catalans and Basques Defy MadridThe Formation of a Capitalist SocietyThe Incompetence of an Interventionist StateConflict and Separation from the RegimeThe Coup d’État2. The Era of State Intervention and Confrontation, 1923–1936The Regulated Economy On Monopolies, Larcenies and ResponsibilitiesThe ‘Sudden Socialisation’ of the Spanish EconomyChapter 3. Paths of Servitude, 1936–1950Revolt and ConspiracyWar and RevolutionA New StateAutarky and Industrial StateChapter 4. Business in the ‘State of Public Works’, 1951–1977The Accelerated Change of Spanish CompaniesThe Return of Class StruggleEntrepreneurs on the Fringe of PowerNepotism, Corruption and Planned EconomyThe Collapse of the Regime and Anti-capitalist CultureChapter 5. The Powers of Democracy, 1977–2000A Central Employers’ OrganisationIndustrial Crisis and ReconversionThe Banking TransitionScandals and the MediaThe Powers of the New EconomyBibliographyIndex