Page - 212 - in Otto Bauer (1881–1938) - Thinker and Politician

212 chapter 5 allocation, and the introduction of a newworks constitution. The foremost objectiveofsocialisationwastheimplementationof industrialdemocracy.104 Bauer’s socialisation programme served to reinforce the argument that transformations of a socialist character could be realised in a capitalist sys- tem.Itpaintedanimageofaworkingclassthatpeacefullyassumespowerover the economybit by bit, aswell as that of a state that rules in the interest of all classesandsocial groups. Itsdiscreetobjectivewas tosuppress therevolu- tionarymood of theworking class and divert their attention away from the workers’ councils. The radicalismof themasses, after all,was inimical to the interestsofaparty that sought toseduce themiddleclassesandchange their political views. Theprogrammecontainedmany interestingpoints that con- tinue to engage theorists to thepresentday. Theywere also reflected indoc- uments of postwar social democracy–yetback in their time, theywerepre- matureandnotconsistentwith theeconomic, social andpolitical conditions inAustria. Theprogramme insufficiently considered the immanentmechan- ismsof the economy, suchasdependencyon foreign capital, the loweduca- tional level of theworkingmasses, and their underdevelopedability to think ineconomicandpolitical terms. In1919,Bauer’ssocialisationplanbecamethe officialprogrammeofthesdap,anditcontinuedtobeupheldatthepartycon- gressinLinz.105Party-internalresistanceonlycamefromrepresentativesofthe consumerco-operatives.They fearedthatworkers’ co-management intheco- operativeswouldstifleproduction,andthey rejected thesuggestion tocreate industrial councils because of their social character.106 Renner, though scep- 104 Formoreonthisconcept,compareChapter6,secondheading. 105 TheprogrammeofLinzpreservedthecentral ideasof the 1919socialisationprogramme: Thesocialisationprocesswould takea longtimetoaccomplish.Socialismcouldonlybe achieved in great economic territories that provided fertile ground for a planned eco- nomy.Various formsofmixedeconomywouldbenecessary. Tradingandconsumer co- operativeswould need to be formed, petty property protected and guaranteed, indus- trialdemocracystrengthened,co-managementalongsideindustrialcouncils introduced, unemploymentinsuranceextended,lawsconcerningworkplacehealthandsafetyregula- tions improved,birthcontrol introduced,abortion legalised,and freeeducationoffered. ThefactthatBauerreiteratedthebasicpremisesoftheoldprogrammetestifiestohis low political sense of reality.While the spring of 1919 still offered favourable conditions for implementingthesocialisationprogramme(therevolutionarycrisis,theclearascendancy ofSocialDemocracy, insecurityandsplits in thebourgeoiscamp,pro-revolutionaryatti- tudes inthe intelligentsiaandpeasantry), thedemandforsocialisationscarcely inspired thesympathiesof themiddleclasses in1926.Theywerebecomingincreasinglyreaction- ary.SeeBerchtold1967,pp.248–56. 106 SeeMärzandWeber1979.