Austrosocialism

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The term “ Austrosocialism ” is representative of the SDAP's policy in Austria-Hungary and the first Austrian republic .

On the other hand, according to Heinz Kienzl , the term “period of Austrosocialism” also includes the “glorious period” of the SPÖ from 1965 to 1995, during which Anton Benya was president of the ÖGB for a long time .

history

The first phase of Austro-Socialism under the Habsburg Monarchy

The founding generation cared little about the scientific approach of socialism, but rather about the creation of political symbols for the emotional connection of broad masses of the people. Initially, conflicts between a Lassallean wing and an anarcho-socialist wing shaped SDAP politics. In 1888 the SDAP was united under the leadership of Victor Adler at the Hainfeld party congress . In the founding generation around Victor Adler, Engelbert Pernerstorfer and Wilhelm Ellenbogen, they provided the ideology manifested in Austro-Socialism , the second generation initiated the phase of Austromarxism . This policy endeavored to connect Marxist spiritual science with Neo-Kantianism or empirical criticism. In addition, its most important representatives tried Max Adler , Karl Renner , Rudolf Hilferding , and a little later Gustav Eckstein and Otto Bauer to de-emotionalize, rationalize and scientifically the party.

Influenced by electoral struggles in Belgium and the 1st Russian Revolution, large demonstrations were carried out by Austro-Socialism, which culminated in a strike for the right to vote in November 1905.

The second phase after 1945

Once again the SPÖ went through a change after 1945. This development did not represent a break, but a gradual change in the theoretical statements formulated by the Austrian Social Democrats. This change can be divided into three phases: The phase of programmatic drying up until 1958, in which the representatives of social democracy before the ban in 1934 by the Austrofascists , such as Julius Deutsch , Otto Leichter , Friedrich Adler and Julius Braunthal, no longer gain a foothold in the party could. The phase of pluralistic freedom of theory from 1958 to around 1970, when various theoretical statements were increasingly able to assert themselves, which led to a pluralism of opinion. Finally the phase of sole government of the SPÖ, which led to the additive integration of very different approaches, such as the "New Left".

In his book Anton Benya and Austrosocialism , Heinz Kienzl commented on the period from 1965 to 1995: “ The years from 1965 to 1995 were a glorious period. There were no better times before or later. The national product has increased further since we joined the EU (...), but everything in all that one can ask of a socialist epoch has been achieved in this generation. "

(Further reading

  • Karl Römer (Red.): Lexicon on history and politics in the 20th century (first volume), Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 1971, p. 60
  • Karl R. Stadler : The Austrian Left. From Austromarxism to Austrosocialism. ÖBV, Vienna 1985.
  • Heinz Kienzl: Anton Benya and Austrosocialism: memories and thoughts. ÖGB-Verlag, Vienna 2012.
  • Norbert readers : Genius Austriacus. Vienna / Cologne / Graz 1986,

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Hans Rauscher : When Austrosocialism was introduced. In: The Standard . October 3, 2012, accessed April 20, 2014 .
  2. ↑ Klaus-Dieter Mulley: "Golden Sixties and Seventies"? In: Arbeit & Wirtschaft 10/2012. Chamber for Workers and Salaried Employees , ÖGB , October 15, 2012, accessed on April 20, 2014 .
  3. ↑ a b Peter Csendes , Ferdinand Opll : Vienna: From 1790 to the present, page 366, Böhlau Verlag, Vienna, 2006
  4. ↑ Josef Langer: Differences and Changes in the Austrian Parties 1918–1938. P. 64 f.
  5. ^ François-Georges Dreyfus (editor): Réformisme et révisionisme dans les socialismes allemand, Austria et francais. P. 130 f.
  6. ↑ When Austro-Socialism was introduced. Retrieved February 12, 2013 .