The 1936 Decree

Download the 1936 Decree (PDF)

The Architecture of Transformation

In the wake of the military uprising of July 1936, the Catalan government faced a unique reality: the bourgeoisie had fled, and the workers had spontaneously taken over industry. The Decree of October 24th was an attempt to give this new order a legal shape. I revisit this text not as a historical curiosity, but as a serious regulatory framework for a non-capitalist economy that prioritised the collective as the 'only beneficiary' of labour.

Capital vs. Consumption

What interests me most in this translation is the precision of its boundaries. The Decree mandates the full collectivisation of 'General Industry' (firms with over 100 workers), replacing the Board of Directors with an elected Consell d'Empresa (Enterprise Council). Yet, it explicitly protects private property in 'consumer goods' and small industry.

This distinction counters the lazy narrative of anarchist chaos. The text reveals a sophisticated attempt to balance the socialisation of capital with the autonomy of the individual, creating a 'General Plan' where the surplus of production is redirected to the community rather than the absentee shareholder.