ABSTRACT
A complete explanation of Spain's intensely uneven process of development needs to take full account of the strong external factors operating on Spain from the first decades of the nineteenth century. Gallagher and Robinson's work suggests that Britain's leadership of the industrial revolution, supported by its command of the sea, allowed it to dominate weaker economies, such as that of Spain. Spain was a highly attractive market for its fast-growing manufacturing economy, particularly the Manchester-based textile industry. This combination of strategic and commercial factors led Britain to actively intervene in Spain's domestic political turmoil of the 1830s. Britain's economic imperialism – both its 'free trade' and its investment capital form – had a strong political dimension. During the last half of the nineteenth century, as rivalry sharpened between the 'great power' empires, Spanish foreign policy became increasingly constrained by British strategic interests.
