Eduard Bernstein and the lessons of the German Revolution

Book section

Eduard Bernstein, the instigator and primary advocate of ‘reformism’ within the social democratic movement, played a central part in the German Revolution and in the early months of the nascent Republic as a treasury minister in the interim Council of People’s Deputies. Bernstein revisited the ‘reform or revolution’ question in several theoretical and historical works, published in 1921–1922. This chapter traces Bernstein’s arguments in these later writings for the urgency of reformism, and the reformist strategy he outlines to achieve socialism. It argues that in both respects, Bernstein makes significant advances relative to his early reformism that are of immediate importance to understanding the motivations of contemporary reformists, and the reasons for their dissociation from the perceived irresponsible risks of violent revolution. The chapter outlines Bernstein’s (highly prophetic) admonitory comments regarding the threats facing the Republic, and suggests that similar concerns continue to confront progressive politics today.

Authors: Ostrowski, MS

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Host title: The German Revolution and Political Theory
• Pages: 137–158
• Series: Marx, Engels, and Marxisms
• Place of publication: Cham, Switzerland
• Publication date: 2019-05-03
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13917-9_7
• EISSN: 2524-7131
• ISSN: 2524-7123
• EISBN: 9783030139179
• ISBN: 9783030139162
• Language: English