For the Future People's State. German Socialists in Exile, 1878-1890

Abstract

In the years between 1878 and 1890, when Bismarck prohibited socialism in Germany with the so-called Sozialistengesetz, many German socialists went into exile abroad. Even though this was an important, formative period for German socialism, historians have treated it as a mere intermezzo in the development of socialism rather than a crucial phase. As a result, the international exchange of ideas between the exiled socialists has long been overlooked. Drawing upon a wide array of sources, this thesis studies the transfer and diffusion of ideas. It does so by looking at four exiled Germans – Carl August Schramm, Carl Hirsch, Hermann Schlüter and Clara Zetkin – and three cities in particular – Zürich, Paris and London. Since ideas are highly personal, it is important to take into account the micro histories of the personal lives. I argue that the experience of exile had a large impact on the worldview of German socialists, although this manifested itself in different ways; some became more radical, others more moderate or they turned away from socialism altogether. It also resulted in the international spread of typical German ideas, such as the ‘Volksstaat’ or people’s state. In the end, socialism in Europe and the United States benefitted from the international contacts and exchange of ideas in this period.