When studying the German liberal it is fascinating how in a period of about 30 years they went from a progressive force on the rise in German politics, to allies of the conservative Chancellor Bismarck, to a position of decline where they could no longer form a coalition that could be a serious threat for power in German politics. I had been thinking about their change of fortune before reading Barkin's article for class on Monday, and it gave a very interesting perspective on how the liberals were both elitest and progressive and thus caught in a no man's land of sorts during an extremely dynamic period of German history
Given that the liberals had risen as an opposition party to the conservative establishment it is interesting to me that they took an elitest political philosophy regarding democracy. In the beginning the liberals benefited a great deal from industrialisation, and their opposition to feudal privilege. This made them extremely appealing to the middle classes and won some support from the lower classes. However they were resistent to working with large segments of the population because they did not see them as informed or educated enough to participate in government. They opposed Democracy and chose to align with Bismarck who represented the interests to which they had originally been opposed.
Given that the liberals were opposed to Bismarck's largest constituency, namely the military and the nobility it is not surprising that they eventually had a falling out. It almost seems that it was an alliance based on who both parties did not like as opposed to mutual interests. In the process the liberals made a lot of enemies in the working classes and with Catholics thus reducing the possibility of forming future alliances.
While Barkin notes that many of Bismarck's policies did work out for the liberals, I feel that their loss of political power left a void in German politics. While their economic positions were dramatically different from the socialists and workers, it would not have been impossible for them to have had some political ties and they could have been a moderating force between the two groups. They also could have provided an alternative to the militaristic policies of the conservatives, and could have allied with teh socialist in opposing Bismarck's favortism towards the Junker class.
Utopian politics does not exist in the real world. It is necessary to form alliances, and unfortunately the best and the brightest do not usually rise to power and govern in a non-partisan way. The liberals had some ideas that could have been very good for Germany, and Germany needed them in a position of power but their own elitism and unwillingness to be politicall inclusive prevented them from any chance of forming a coalition that could bring checks on Bismarck.
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I agree that there were definitely segments of the liberals who benefitted from their alliance with the aristocratic neighbors in opposition to the lower classes. It allowed them to maintain a certain status quo that could help them fight the common fear of the time: that of slipping into the lower and working classes. But I feel this is one of the reasons they ultimately failed politically. As we mentioned in class this contributed to an alienation of the lower classes, especially the working class proletariat who perceived the social democrats to be looking out for their interest much more so than the liberal party. This alliance with the elite most definitely hurt them with Catholics too as many of them were in vast poverty and couldn’t have benefitted from anything the liberals seemed to offer.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also important to remember as we discussed in class that there was certain capitalization of the elite classes. That is to say that many Junkers and other former Nobel men saw the benefits of working within these more liberal and capitalist systems in order to stay in power further connecting the two groups. Both were benefitting from the relationship so there was no need for either party to seek change.
The role of the German liberals in the the 19th century is quite intriguing. Charged historically as disasterously inept, I think you gave a good synopsis of the evolution of the Liberals. Their alignment with Bismarck, and apparent abandonment of principles, show us that while history would have us brand this group of people in a particular mold, the practicalities of their day did not permit them to act as this desireable force. I agree with your assessment on uptopian politics, a point that really can't be ignored considering Bismarck's massive political success and his realpolitik strategies.
ReplyDeleteA great assessment of a beleagured group. The liberals found themselves struggling simultaneously against the aristcracy and the working class. However, it might be important to remember that the revolutionary rhetoric espoused by the SPD certainly did not help pave the way for cooperation with liberals and perhaps offered greater incentive for liberals to ally with aristocrats in order to prevent a victory by a radical, revolutionary working class party.
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