Gabrielism

The Gabrielists (Spanish: Gabrielistas) are royalists who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession to the Mejican crown of the descendants of Gabriel II, who was ousted in a coup by Agustín I and María Carlota in 1825. Gabrielists advocate for the restoration of the Gabrieline branch of the House of Bourbon, and the establishment of a constitutional social monarchy in Mejico. Central to their ideology is the belief in the divine right of kings and the legitimacy of the Gabrieline line as the rightful rulers of the nation.

Throughout its history, the Gabrielist movement has faced numerous challenges and setbacks. Following the deposition of the young King Gabriel II, his supporters experienced a decline in political influence and were marginalized by the ascendancy of Iturbidist forces, who were supported by powerful landowners, the Church, and the Army. Lacking the backing of influential factions, the Gabrielists had to adapt their political ambitions and approach.

The zenith of the movement came during the Mejican Civil War, during which supporters of Gabriel III rose up in rebellion in the province of Nuevo León. The pretender, however, negotiated a ceasefire between his supporters and the government of Venustiano Carranza, laying down their arms in 1914. Gabriel III, however, continued to campaign on political and social reforms, the promotion of education, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs.

Over time, the Gabrielist movement underwent ideological transformations, incorporating liberal and socialist elements. Social Monarchism emerged as a key tenet, blending the traditional monarchical principles with modern ideas of Christian socialism. The Gabrielist Party evolved into a formidable political force, advocating for a decentralized federal system, and supported the government of Álvaro Obregón. This shift was partly driven by the changing political landscape and the need to appeal to a broader base of support. Some Gabrielists embraced concepts of constitutionalism, civil liberties, and social justice, advocating for a more inclusive and egalitarian society under a constitutional monarchy.

The movement suffered more setbacks throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1946, the movement became splintered as the Third International collapsed following the overthrow of the Bolshevik government by the Mladorossi in Russia, giving way to the expulsion of all Social Monarchist movements from the organization, including the Gabrielist Party. This expulsion was a significant blow to the Gabrielist cause, as it lost valuable international support and resources. The Gabrielists, who had been suppressed by the Vasconcelist government, gained some leeway as the more determined Social Monarchists aligned with the Pact of Unity and Collaboration, of which Mejico was a member, somewhat softening the hard stance of the government against them.

Despite the staunch Iturbidist alignment of the Mejican government and the close collaboration between President and Monarch that continued after the Proclamation of Empire in 1958, the Gabrielists became an acceptable opposition force within the political landscape. The Mejican monarchy cautiously allowed for limited political space for the Gabrielists to operate, recognizing the historical significance and enduring support for the Gabrieline branch. This strategic move prevented further radicalization of the movement.

Despite their political influence waning considerably, the Gabrielist faction has been gaining adherents among the more liberal and socialist sectors of Mejican society. Their political wing, the Gabrielist Party, is represented in the provincial congresses of seven provinces, and has 12 representatives sitting in the Imperial Congress. The current pretender is María Cecilia, Duchess of Cadereyta, known among her supporters as María II. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Gabriel II, and was elected as the main pretender in the Gabrielist Summit of 2010. She has retained the position since, given the positive growth and electoral results of the Party under her tenure as leader.

Ideology

21st-century Gabrielist ideology is a remarkable synthesis of Christian, monarchist, and socialist values. Gabrielist theory is known within its circles as "Christian Social Monarchism", an ideology that emphasizes the role of the monarchy as a symbol of continuity, stability, and tradition while advocating for socialist rule, welfare programs, and economic reforms to address inequality. In the Gabrielist conception of Mejican kingship, the Gabrieline branch of the House of Bourbon was divinely ordained, while the current living members have to be elected, or "ratified" by the people. They theorize about "Popular Kings" (Spanish: Reyes populares), a monarch who serves as a defender of the people's interests and welfare, transcending political parties and representing the nation as a whole.

Their adherence to Christian principles plays a pivotal role in shaping their ideology. Gabrielist theorists are inspired by Catholic social teaching and the 19th-century Catholic Social Movement. Embracing Catholic teaching, Gabrielists view the Three Prime Virtues (Spanish: Tres Virtudes Primarias), compassion, justice, and solidarity, as essential tenets of their governance model. The monarchy should embody these virtues and serve as a unifying force. The monarch goes beyond the figurehead status, and actively engages in addressing social issues and promoting the welfare of the people. Emphasizing the principles of egalitarianism and the fair distribution of resources, they envision a society where the benefits of progress are accessible to all.

In terms of labor, they reject the Marxist-Leninist class struggle framework and propose a more harmonious relationship between labor and capital. The Gabrielist approach to labor relations emphasizes cooperation, respect, and mutual benefit. Their advocacy for workers' rights and class cooperation led to their rapprochement with the Vasconcelist model of governance, as corporatism forms a significant part of their economic policies. Gabrielists, however, differ in their preference for a more small-scale decentralized approach to economic organization, promoting cooperatives, family-owned businesses, and social enterprises, rather than large corporate groups. They believe in the importance of a strong welfare state that guarantees basic rights and protections for all citizens, particularly emphasizing education, healthcare, and housing as fundamental human rights.

The Gabrielist vision for economic justice also includes measures to address income inequality, such as progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and public investment in infrastructure and social programs. In line with their Christian principles, the Gabrielist economic model prioritizes the common good over individual profit, seeking to create a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the collective well-being. What they call "Apostolic living" (Spanish: Vivencia apostólica) is central to their economic philosophy, in which communal economic arrangements are seen as essential to ensure that no one is left behind.

The Gabrielists advocate for a holistic and sustainable demographic policy that is wholly anti-Malthusian. Rejecting Malthusianism regarding population growth and resources, the Gabrielists believe in the capacity of society to progress and thrive without negative consequences stemming from population growth. They view population growth as a positive factor that can contribute to the development and prosperity of the nation, adhering to the Biblical principle of "Be fruitful and multiply", referring to it as a God-given mandate. Distributism plays a key role in their demographic policy, advocating for widespread property ownership and agrarian reform to ensure that each family has access to the resources necessary for sustenance and growth. Gabrielists see the family as the cornerstoneof society, and prioritize policies that support family stability and wellbeing.

In terms of immigration, they promote policies that prioritize the integration and assimilation of immigrants into Mejican society. Inspired by Psalm 133, Ecce quam bonum, Gabrielists place special emphasis on welcoming and embracing all Christians as part of the national community. Their ecumenical approach to immigration reflects their belief in the unity of all Christians under a common purpose. Gabrielists seek to create a society where diverse backgrounds are respected, while also promoting a shared identity rooted in Christian values and national unity. Their immigration policy proposals focus on providing support and resources for immigrant families to successfully integrate them into Mejican society.

Principles of succession

Historically, the principles of succession for the Gabrielists have been as follows:

• The throne is passed to the eldest male descendant of King Gabriel II in the direct male line, giving preference to male heirs over female heirs.
• If there are no male heirs available, a female heir may succeed to the throne.
• Only children born of marriages recognized as legitimate under the canon law of the Catholic Church and the national law of Mejico are eligible for succession.
• Successors must adhere to the Catholic faith, be baptized and confirmed in accordance with Catholic traditions.
• Successors must be of Mejican nationality, born within the territorial boundaries of Mejico.
• Individuals with dual loyalties or allegiances to foreign powers, or who have taken actions to undermine the sovereignty of Mejico, are ineligible for the throne.

However, since transitioning into a Social Monarchist movement in the 1910s and 1920s, these principles have been modified, eliminating the principle of primogeniture and male preference. Instead, all descendants of Francisco, Duke of Cadereyta, who helped shape the Gabrielist movement along the principles of Christian Socialism, are eligible for succession regardless of their sex. Additionally, the requirement of being born in Mejico also removed, allowing for descendants who may have been exiled or were born abroad to be eligible for the throne, and morganatic marriages were made permissible. For ideological consistency, heirs who renounce the principles of Christian Socialism and Social Monarchism, are ipso facto excluded from the line of succession.