Linz program (social democracy)
The Linz program of the Social Democratic Workers' Party in German Austria was in effect from November 3, 1926 until the party was banned on February 12, 1934 . It contains Marxist and class struggle traits and offers the theoretical basis for the political disputes with the Christian Social Party and the Heimwehr , which at the time were increasingly clerical-fascist .
content
The achievements of the First Republic are expressly recognized in the Linz program, as they abolished political privileges and gave the working class "political equality and freedom of movement". However, it is criticized that the bourgeoisie still has control over social institutions through economic power and tradition. A possible cooperation with the bourgeoisie is described as at most a temporary state, since the class antagonisms are irrevocable - this is where the point of view contrary to the ideas of a corporate state becomes clearest, which proceeds from the elimination of class antagonisms through the subdivision of society into professions .
After the "conquest of rule in the democratic republic" aimed at in the Linz program, democracy should not be abolished, but placed in the "service of the workers" in order to expropriate large capital and landed property and the means of production and exchange into the "common possession of the whole To convict people ”.
Since a monarchist or fascist counterrevolution was expected as a consequence of the Social Democrats , they considered it necessary to keep the working class in "constant organized mental and physical readiness to defend the republic" in order to use democracy to "rule the class of the bourgeoisie." break". However, they expressly kept the possibility of civil war open if the bourgeoisie succeeded in destroying democracy in a counter-revolution.
Concepts
The Linz program also contained a number of up-to-date, partly grassroots but also liberal, practice-oriented ideas, for example:
- Abolition of the state in favor of a democratic local government
- Election of judges by the people
- Right of asylum for political refugees
- a lifting of international protective tariffs
- Eliminate bureaucratic obstacles
- Expansion of tenant protection
- Strengthening of state influence to combat monopolies
- Non-profit housing
- Reduction of consumption taxes, creation of tax-free minima, on the other hand expansion of a progressive tax system
- Company co-determination rights
- Expansion of the social security systems
- Equal Rights for Women
- Information about and provision of contraceptive methods by the health insurance companies
- Protection of pregnant women
- Free of charge and democratization of the school system
- Extension of compulsory schooling, maximum number of pupils
- Promotion of talented people of all classes to attend higher schools
- Religious freedom (viewing religion as a private matter)
- but: fight against authoritarian religious institutions
- Complete separation of church and state
- Promotion of popular sport and popular education
The Linz program is clearly committed to Marxism , especially to the determinism of history represented in the Communist Manifesto . This states that the transition from capitalism to socialism (and later to communism ) is a historical necessity. Both conservatives and German nationalists therefore used to warn against Austrobolshevism . It is also assumed that such a transition can only take place in connection with similar developments in other countries - a thesis which, by the way, Leon Trotsky also advocated.
Socialist International
Furthermore, it pleaded for the Socialist International , to self-determination and the annexation of Austria to the then Republican German Empire, the Weimar Republic (the passage for connection, was after the 1933 seizure of power of the Nazis in the German Reich , deleted). In addition, they spoke out against any form of military action and the interference of large foreign capital.
The League of Nations is referred to as the "battleground of the class struggle"; Tendencies that make it a “tool for the defense of the capitalist social order” are criticized and democratization and the entry of all peoples are demanded.
Effect on political opponents
The Linz program acted as a beacon . Due to the revolutionary formulations, it was understood as a call to class struggle and used by political opponents for propaganda purposes. The home guards in particular succeeded in making a profit from this, as they enjoyed a lively influx of residents as a result of the Linz program.
literature
- Helmut Feichter: The Linz program (1926) of the Austrian social democracy. In: Historical yearbook of the city of Linz 1973/74. Linz 1974, pp. 233–339, online (PDF) in the forum OoeGeschichte.at.
- Norbert Leser : Between Reformism and Bolshevism. Austromarxism as theory and practice . Europa-Verlag, Vienna a. a. 1968.
- Siegmund Kaff : Austrobolshevism as the guardian of "legality". A chapter from the internal political medical history of Austria . Amalthea-Verlag, Vienna a. a. 1930.