Red Saxony : Election Battles and the Spectre of Democracy in Germany, 1860-1918

Red Saxony throws new light on the reciprocal relationship between political modernization and authoritarianism in Germany over the span of six decades. Election battles were fought so fiercely in Imperial Germany because they reflected two kinds of democratization. Social democratization could not be stopped, but political democratization was opposed by many members of the German bourgeoisie. Frightened by the electoral success of the Social Democrats after 1871, anti-democrats deployed many strategies that flew in the face of electoral fairness. They battled socialists, liberals, and Jews at election time, but they also strove to rewrite the electoral rules of the game. Using a regional lens to rethink older assumptions about Germany's changing political culture, this volume focuses as much on contemporary Germans' perceptions of electoral fairness as on their experiences of voting. It devotes special attention to various semi-democratic voting systems whereby a general and equal suffrage (for the Reichstag) was combined with limited and unequal ones for local and regional parliaments. For the first time, democratization at all three tiers of governance and their reciprocal effects are considered together. Although the bourgeois face of German authoritarianism was nowhere more evident than in the Kingdom of Saxony, Red Saxony illustrates how other Germans grew to fear the spectre of democracy. Although twists and turns lay ahead, that fear made it easier for Hitler and the Nazis to win elections in the 1920s and to entomb German democracy in 1933. Red Saxony Throws New Light On The Reciprocal Relationship Between Political Modernization And Authoritarianism In Germany Over The Span Of Six Decades. Election Battles Were Fought So Fiercely In Imperial Germany Because They Reflected Two Kinds Of Democratization. Social Democratization Could Not Be Stopped, But Political Democratization Was Opposed By Many Members Of The German Bourgeoisie. Frightened By The Electoral Success Of The Social Democrats After 1871, Anti-democrats Deployed Many Strategies That Flew In The Face Of Electoral Fairness. They Battled Socialists, Liberals, And Jews At Election Time, But They Also Strove To Rewrite The Electoral Rules Of The Game. Using A Regional Lens To Rethink Older Assumptions About Germany's Changing Political Culture, This Volume Focuses As Much On Contemporary Germans' Perceptions Of Electoral Fairness As On Their Experiences Of Voting. It Devotes Special Attention To Various Semi-democratic Voting Systems Whereby A General And Equal Suffrage (for The Reichstag) Was Combined With Limited And Unequal Ones For Local And Regional Parliaments. For The First Time, Democratization At All Three Tiers Of Governance And Their Reciprocal Effects Are Considered Together. Introduction -- Election Battles And Democratization -- Socialists And Others -- Saxony And The Reich -- 1. On The Threshold Of A New Age -- Saxony's Modernization -- Electoral Politics In The Old Key -- New Ideas Are Filling The World -- 2. The Possibilities Of Liberal Reform -- The Reichstag Elections Of February 1867 -- Saxony And The North German Confederation -- The Langtag Suffrage Reform Of 1868 -- A Liberal Era? -- 3. Enemies Of The Reich -- The Rise Of Saxon Social Democracy -- Red Saxony? The Shock Of January 1874 -- The Struggle Against Subversion -- 4. The Struggle Against Revolution -- The National Context -- Saxony's Contribution -- In The Trenches -- Valid - Not Valid -- 5. Against Liberalism And The Jews -- Liberalism Adrift -- Conservatives And Radical Antisemites -- 6. Authoritarianism Under Siege -- 1,427,298 Social Democratic Voters! -- Rowdy Business -- Politics In An Off Key -- 7. Suffrage Reform As Coup D'État -- For Religion, Morality, And Order -- 8. Red Saxony! -- High Stakes, 1903 -- A Way Forward? -- 9. Deflecting Democracy -- The Decent Opinion Of Mankind -- Saxon Models -- 10. Crisis And Retrenchment -- Power Of The Street -- Holding The Line, January 1907 -- 11. Dance -- A House Divided -- Democracy In Disappearing Ink -- 12. Politics In A New Key -- Praxis, October 1909 -- Perplexed -- Casting Ballots, Casting Stones -- 13. Adrift -- A Lost Half-decade -- Stirrings -- Licking Wounds -- Suffrage Reform: Right, Half-turn! -- 14. Democracy Deferred -- The Crucible Of War -- The Curious Republic Of Gondour -- Conclusion: The Spectre Of Democracy. James Retallack. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 639-679) And Index. Red Saxony throws new light on the reciprocal relationship between political modernization and authoritarianism in Germany over the span of six decades. Election battles were fought so fiercely in Imperial Germany because they reflected two kinds of democratization. Social democratization could not be stopped, but political democratization was opposed by many members of the German bourgeoisie. Frightened by the electoral success of the Social Democrats after 1871, anti-democrats deployed many strategies that flew in the face of electoral fairness. They battled socialists, liberals, and Jews at election time, but they also strove to rewrite the electoral rules of the game. Using a regional lens to rethink older assumptions about Germany's changing political culture, this volume focuses as much on contemporary Germans'perceptions of electoral fairness as on their experiences of voting. It devotes special attention to various semi-democratic voting systems whereby a general and equal suffrage (for the Reichstag) was combined with limited and unequal ones for local and regional parliaments. For the first time, democratization at all three tiers of governance and their reciprocal effects are considered together. Although the bourgeois face of German authoritarianism was nowhere more evident than in the Kingdom of Saxony, Red Saxony illustrates how other Germans grew to fear the spectre of democracy. Certainly twists and turns lay ahead, yet that fear made it easier for Hitler and the Nazis to win elections in the 1920s and to entomb German democracy in 1933. This book throws new light on the reciprocal relationship between political modernization and authoritarianism in Germany over the span of six decades. Election battles were fought so fiercely in Imperial Germany because they reflected two kinds of democratization. Social democratization could not be stopped; but political democratization was opposed by many members of the German bourgeoisie. Frightened by the electoral success of Social Democrats after 1871, anti-democrats deployed many strategies that flew in the face of electoral fairness. They battled socialists, liberals, and Jews at election time, but they also strove to rewrite the electoral rules of the game. Using a regional lens to rethink older assumptions about Germany’s changing political culture, this book focuses as much on contemporary Germans’ perceptions of electoral fairness as on their experiences of voting. It devotes special attention to various semi-democratic voting systems whereby a general and equal suffrage (for the Reichstag) was combined with limited and unequal ones for local and regional parliaments. For the first time, democratization at all three tiers of governance and their reciprocal effects are considered together. Although the bourgeois face of German authoritarianism was nowhere more evident than in the Kingdom of Saxony, this book illustrates how Germans grew to fear the spectre of democracy. Certainly twists and turns lay ahead, yet that fear made it easier for Hitler and the Nazis to inter German democracy in 1933. Red Saxony reappraises Germany's prospects for democratic governance from the mid-nineteenth century to the collapse of the Second Reich, asking: how was Germany governed in the era of Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II? How did fear of revolution push liberal and conservative parties together? How did Germany's leaders see their nation's future? 'Red Saxony' reappraises Germany's prospects for democratic governance from the mid-19th century to the collapse of the Second Reich, asking: how was Germany governed in the era of Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II? How did fear of revolution push liberal and conservative parties together? How did Germany's leaders see their nation's future?