Page - 140 - in Otto Bauer (1881–1938) - Thinker and Politician

140 chapter 4 Bauer staunchly focusedon the interpenetrationof different cultures and consequent emergenceof an international culture.41UnlikeKautsky, though, he did not believe that increasingly fluid cultural boundarieswould elimin- atedistinctnationalcharacteristics.AccordingtotheMarxianview,thenation would lose its valuewith the victory of socialism and realisation of a class- lesssociety.Numeroussocialists, includingLuxemburgandJeanGuesde,con- cluded that the concept of the nationwas a bourgeoismyth. Formany, the socialist ideaalsocontainedwhatBauer referred toasa ‘naivecosmopolitan- ism’(Bauer’s term)inheritedfromhumanistenlightenmentphilosophy.Bauer believeddifferently: for him, proletarian internationalismwasnot synonym- ouswithcosmopolitanism.Inhismind,socialist ideologyhadtorestuponthe foundationsofeveryrespectivenation’sculturaltraditions.Indefianceofcom- mon formulas, he declared that socialismwould not only preserve national identity,but itwouldevenstrengthenanddevelopit.42 AllofBauer’sobservationshadacorrespondingpointofreference:therealm of culture. On this basis, he attempted to explain the development of the national character, the genesis anddeterminationofnational consciousness, andtheroleofvaluejudgementintheprocessofnationforming.Whatismore, heaspiredtodistinguishtheobjectivebondswhichtiedindividualstoanation and examine restrictionswhich interferedwith the integrationof thewhole nation. Bauer’s belief that theparticipationof all citizens innational culture was the fundamental condition for theexistenceof anation in the full sense still informscontemporarytheoriesonthenationalitiesquestion.43 Bauer’sundeniablemeritwashischallengetomanystereotypicalconcepts of the nation to which socialists adhered during the Second International period. Equally valuablewas the simple truth that everynationpossesses an intrinsicvalueandhasitsownuniquedynamicsofdevelopment.Bauer’sbelief in the longevity and identity of nations based on culture is still viable in Europeanconsciousness. 41 Thiswas directly opposed to Lenin’s position. Lenin opposednational culture as bour- geoisnationalismandadvocatedforaconsistentlydemocraticandsocialist international culture.SeeLenin1963,pp.246–7. 42 Kołakowski,Mozetič,Kulemann,andmanyotherAustrianauthorshavealsomentioned this.SeeKołakowski2005,p.298;Mozetič 1987,p.225;Kulemann1979,p. 127. 43 ItisworthmentioningthefollowingPolishscientistsinthisregard:Cackowski1974;Kozyr- Kowalski 1974;Wiatr 1973.