Issues Critique
of Liberalism | Socialism | Nationalism Nationalism and Racism The earliest activities of the Circle reflected an interest in an ideal society founded in reviving the essence of the Germanic folk. The Circle extolled the German folk and the superiority of the cultural inheritance of Germany. This belief extended into a vision for a unified Germany. Friedjung and Kralik looked to the folk as a source of simplicity, clarity, and renewal. Pernerstorfer was one of the founders of the pan-German (deutschnational) movement. The Linz Program, which numerous Circle members participated in and evolved into a foundation for later socialist activity, focused on the complaints of the lower classes -- the workers and peasants. The meetings themselves became opportunities to engage in homage to the German culture they admired. Kralik recalled in his memoirs a meeting in which the members of the Circle all sang Deutschland, Deutschland über Alles! -- with Gustav Mahler as piano accompanist. The deutschnational movement saw Richard Wagner's work as an epitome of the potential for German folk to be the basis for transformative art. This concept, united with socialism, was expressed by Pernerstorfer thus in 1911:
Pernerstorfer explains that nationalists such as himself always perceived the pursuit of a unified Germany to be an essentially democratic and inclusive pursuit. But the tragic irony is that the völkish nationalism espoused by the Circle was thoroughly intertwined with the resurgence of anti-Semitism at the turn of the century. Most of the Circle's members were, in fact, Jewish (including Adler, Serafin Bondi, Friedjung, Lipiner, and Mahler). The völkish movement attracted many Jews who were willing to accept the negative stereotypes of Jewish cultural traditions. The Jewish members of the Circle saw themselves as members of the German folk; they rejected what they perceived to be Jewish cultural traditions of devotion to urbanity, capitalism, and disconnected intellectualism. The Wagnerism that united the members of the Circle was itself burdened with an undercurrent of anti-Semitic ideology. Socialist politics was also increasingly characterized by anti-Semitism, particularly as some leaders found it a way to increase the following among the lower-middle class participants. Georg von Schönerer -- who also participated in drafting the Linz Program with Circle members -- evolved into a virulently anti-Semitic politician and activist. Schönerer was admired by Hitler as one of his primary inspirations during his time in Vienna. [See information on Schönerer in the Encyclopedia of Austria.] Critique
of Liberalism | Socialism | Nationalism
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