Towards Modernity / Aufbruch in die Moderne
Reform and Mass Politicisation in the German Empire
»In order to understand the present, we must understand the reform era around 1900 in its complexity.«
The German Empire, founded in 1871, is often considered a stronghold of subservience to authority, chauvinism and militarism. Yet, at the same time, it was a point of departure towards modern mass democracy. The Empire had an intelligent constitution, ambitious reforms were initiated, and one of the biggest changes of all was gaining crucial momentum: women’s liberation.
These tendencies, according to Hedwig Richter, are not mere asynchronisms. The inclusion of the masses,...
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The German Empire, founded in 1871, is often considered a stronghold of subservience to authority, chauvinism and militarism. Yet, at the same time, it was a point of departure towards modern mass democracy. The Empire had an intelligent constitution, ambitious reforms were initiated, and one of the biggest changes of all was gaining crucial momentum: women’s liberation.
These tendencies, according to Hedwig Richter, are not mere asynchronisms. The inclusion of the masses, propelled by the idea of equality, came at the cost of various exclusions: antisemitism, racism or misogyny. In her essay, Richter shows that we can understand the 20th century and its extremes better if we understand the reform era around 1900 in its complexity.
»an instructive read. A piece of history that places the Empire into a new relation to the present.« Georg Simmerl, Süddeutsche Zeitung
»an instructive read. A piece of history that places the Empire into a new relation to the present.« Georg Simmerl, Süddeutsche Zeitung
2021, 175 pages
Persons
Hedwig Richter
Author
Hedwig Richter, born in 1973, is professor of Modern History at the Bundeswehr University Munich. In 2020, she was awarded the Anna Krüger Prize by the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study. Her book Demokratie. Eine deutsche Affäre (2020) was longlisted for the NDR Kultur Non-Fiction Prize and shortlisted for the Bavarian Book Prize. Hedwig Richter writes for publications such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, DIE ZEIT, taz. die tageszeitung and Der Spiegel.
Hedwig Richter
Author
Hedwig Richter, born in 1973, is professor of Modern History at the Bundeswehr University Munich. In 2020, she was awarded the Anna Krüger...
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