Red banners, books and beer mugs : : the mental world of German Social Democrats, 1863-1914 / / by Andrew G. Bonnell.

• Superior document: Historical materialism book series ; Volume 220
• VerfasserIn: Bonnell, Andrew, 1960-
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston : : Brill,, [2021]; ©2021
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Series: Historical materialism book series ; Volume 220.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

The German Social Democratic Party was the world's first million-strong political party and was the main force pushing for the democratisation of Imperial Germany before the First World War. This book examines the themes around which the party organized its mainly working-class membership, and analyses the experiences and outlook of rank-and-file party members as well as the party's press and publications. Key themes include: the Lassalle cult and leadership, nationalism and internationalism, attitudes to work, the politics of subsistence, the effects of military service, reading and the diffusion of Marx's ideas, cultural organisations, and socialism and republicanism under the Imperial German state. Before 1914, the party successfully simultaneously addressed workers' everyday concerns while offering the prospect of a better future.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1 Ideology, Leadership, and Party Culture: The Lassalle Cult in German Social Democracy -- 2 Between Internationalism, Nationalism and Particularism: From the War of 1870-71 to the July Crisis, 1914 -- 3 Attitudes to Labour in the German Social Democratic Party in the Kaiserreich -- 4 Social Democracy and the Price of Bread: The Politics of Subsistence in Imperial Germany -- 5 Reds in the Ranks: Social Democrats in the Kaiser's Army -- 6 Reading Marx -- 7 Workers and Cultural Activities: Culture, Sociability, Organisation -- 8 Socialism and Republicanism in Imperial Germany -- Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index.