The Dispossessed of Catalonia

In Catalonia, medium-sized textile concerns dominated the economy. Due to protectionism, they remained separate and were not conglomerated like in other countries. This allowed the smaller family firms to act like dictators and refuse to make deals with workers. The state did not intervene effectively, resulting in extreme consequences for the workers. In rural Catalonia, the dispossessed formed the basis of the CNT. They were impoverished and lacked resources.