The industrial associativism in Porto (second quarter of the 19th century)

Abstract

It is the main purpose of this article to show the emergence of the associativism in the industrial sphere in Porto (second quarter of the 19^th century). Since 1834, the «Associação Comercial do Porto» was the only representative agent of the economics interests as a wlole, including the industrials. In 1838, the «Associação Artista e Industrial da Cidade do Porto» emerges as a specific industrial association, leaded by the textile businessmen, but it was never legitimated by the central power, despite successives applications to the «chartist» government. The reasons seem to be the «septembrist» cannotation of the new association and the pressure of the «Associação Comercial do Porto». In 1849 other industrial circles, including enginneers from the «Academia Politécnica» conscious of the technology delay, created the «Associação Industrial Portuense», but only in 1852 the new political situation («Regeneração») was favourable to its legality. In this context, the «Associação Comercial do Porto» and some textile businessmen created an apposite organization, the «Associação Industrial do Porto», trying to introduce an obstacle and breaking up the industrial associativism. These conflicts help to understand the debility of the associativism in Porto till 1890s.