At What Cost?

While several European nations declared neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, many strayed from this course in favor of active belligerence. Spain, however, remained neutral for the war's duration, and this work is a thorough examination of all aspects of Spanish neutrality. The decision to maintain a neutral policy required serious consideration of the consequences of intervention. Some hoped that by abstaining from involvement, their country would emerge at the war's end as the arbiter of peace, enabling Spain to regain prestige and reestablish itself as a major continental power. However, neutrality proved to be a difficult undertaking as Spain could not escape the hardships and effects of a continental war. Spain faced numerous diplomatic crises as it courted both of the warring parties, while domestic, economic and political discontent divided the nation and laid the groundwork for revolution further destabilizing its already unsteady government. Thus, Spain's neutral policy was a multifarious problem that kept it out of the war, but resulted in unintended consequences, including the ultimate demise of the Spanish regime.