Why Barcelona is one of the world's most revolutionary cities

Protests are very common in Barcelona, and in recent years, the Catalan capital has earned a reputation for its fiery activism.  

This year alone, we have witnessed significant farmers' protests, taxi demonstrations, pro-Palestinian rallies, and protests against mass tourism.  

But the most notable in recent decades have been the massive Catalan pro-independence demonstrations, the anti-austerity rallies of 2011, and the annual feminist marches on International Women’s Day.

This rich history of activism has deep roots. All the way back in 1873, philosopher Friedrich Engels pointed out that Barcelona was "the city in the world with the most barricade fights" on its streets. 

In the next century, during the early days of the Spanish Civil War, British novelist George Orwell wrote that Barcelona was the first city he had seen where "the working class was in the saddle." 

Catalans’ propensity for taking to the streets even reached the highest office in US politics. During the massive demonstrations against the Iraq War in 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush reportedly commented that US foreign policy "cannot be dictated by the number of people demonstrating in Barcelona." 

History of revolt

As protests continue, many are turning to history to understand their origins. Historian Salvador Lou gives tours of the city's revolutionary past at Barcelona Rebelde. 

In the Tres Xemeneies gardens in the El Poble-sec neighborhood, a historic site where the La Canadenca strike began in 1919, leading the Spanish government to decree the eight-hour workday, Salvador explains why Barcelona is so revolutionary.

"In the 20th century, Spain was one of the centers of industrialization, and revolutionary syndicalism took root very strongly in Barcelona, followed by anarcho-syndicalism, which were the most combative currents of the labor movement in Spain at that time," he says. 

Part of this revolutionary spirit, influenced by ideological currents, was also due in part to Barcelona's location. Salvador argues that Barcelona, as a Mediterranean port city, has had extensive contact with other countries, cultures, and ideas.  

"The city serves as a point of transit where people exiled from other parts of the world pass through, leaving behind their experiences and a culture that has led to various uprisings at different times," he adds. 

Barcelona's role as a stateless capital, with its own language and culture, also contributed to its revolutionary character. 

Salvador explains that in the 20th century, there was a convergence between the workers' cause and "an increasingly popular national cause," which was embraced even by those "who had recently arrived from other parts of Spain." 

"Supporting Catalan autonomy or even independence was often seen as a means of transformation or as a means of breaking with a regime that was in crisis," he explains. 

To understand today's protests, looking back at history is crucial. From workers' movements such as the La Canadenca strike to anti-war uprisings like the Tragic Week, Barcelona Rebelde sheds light on this part of the city's history, which has often been overshadowed. 

 "It is a part of our history that is perhaps less present, not only in the guides but in the cultural offerings in general, which is the social history, the history from below, the history of revolutions, of social movements." 

To learn more about Barcelona's history of uprisings, urban fighting, and revolts, listen to this episode of our podcast Filling the Sink.