Revolutionäre Hofgänger? Sozialdemokratie und die Monarchien im Wilhelminischen Kaiserreich (1890-1914)

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between Social Democracy and monarchies in Imperial Germany from 1890 to 1914. For the bulk of the history of the Empire, this was described as antagonistic. On the one hand, the anti-monarchical Social Democrats were seen as “enemies of the empire”. On the other hand, the “monarchical authoritarian state” seemed to be an obstacle to democratic development. According to the socialist perspective, a republic was assumed to be the more suitable form of government, to be achieved through a revolution. However, underneath this common view, the relationship between these opposing forces is much more varied, complex, and conflicting, especially when focussing on Germany’s sub-national monarchies. Therefore, and in addition to the Imperial level, this study explores this relationship by analysing the developments in the Kingdoms of Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony. The thesis argues that neither the Social Democrats nor the monarchies can be described as a monolithic block. In addition, both sides proved their ability for further development and mutability. Shaped by the Empire’s federalism, a variety of different characteristics and relations was possible. In the process of centralisation, when responsibilities and competencies were transferred to the Imperial level, the regional monarchs lost a great deal of their hard power. By compensating this loss with soft power – publicly shown by their attempts as devoted and caring fathers of their countries – these princes could become acceptable even for Social Democrats. While the relationship with the Kaiser remained difficult, in the smaller kingdoms and states there was at least the chance of rapprochement. In many of the state parliaments, Social Democrats integrated themselves into the political cultures. In this process, they were willing to accept monarchical elements of these constitutional monarchies. In the end, it even led to the remarkable situation that in many of the sub-national monarchies, Social Democrats attended court in order to fulfil their parliamentary duties despite the party’s fundamental beliefs.