Conservatism in Modern German History

Abstract

German conservatism has twice significantly shifted its ground in the hundred years since Bismarck created the Second German Empire. The first of these momentous changes of position was clearly foreshadowed during the Bismarck years and took place between 1890 and 1918, when conservatism, hitherto very much under the sway of what were predominantly Prussian traditions, became 'volkisch' - nationalist in its policy, ideology and coalition-making, taking on a number of clearly pre-fascist characteristics. Conservative thinking and policy then underwent a second thorough reappraisal in the aftermath of the second world war. These changes, which will be examined in more detail here, affected not only conservatism's political aims and ideals but also the manner in which its representative parties, federations and groups combined and were organized. They affected its political functions, the integrating or polarizing potential of its ideology and propaganda, the composition of its social base, its view of itself and its relative status within the social and political context of the time. However, since this context has itself undergone transformation in the period to be considered it would not be enough merely to draw up a list of component elements of 'conservative thought',' in an attempt to arrive at least at some sort of lowest common denominator. It is also necessary to study conservatism in terms of the social and political functions it fulfilled at specific moments of history. Quite apart from any national and regional variations, 'being conservative' could and did mean different things at different times, even within the same general context.