Page - 355 - in Otto Bauer (1881–1938) - Thinker and Politician

closing remarks 355 significance for the leaders of hostile political factions,whowerewell aware that therewasnogenuinewill toactbehindtherevolutionaryrhetoric. Itdid, however, mislead potential supporters of Social Democracy: a considerable partof societybelievedthatBauer’spoliticswouldheraldcivilwar inAustria. This fear resulted inwidespreadhostility towards the sdap and allowed the bourgeoispartiestoconsolidatetheirpower. Bauer placed great importance on themoral value of his politics, andhis fate incontestablydemonstrates theextenttowhichthisbothdroveandinca- pacitatedhispolitics.His failureasapoliticiandoesnotdiminishthevalueof the ideasheserved: the realisationof socialpartnershipandtheunityofpro- gressiveanddemocraticforces.Toaccomplishtheseideas,oneneedstoextend democracy andcivil liberties andabideby ideological pluralism–principles thatwereclosetoBauer’sheart. Austromarxism, includingBauer’s theoryandpractice, is a fragmentof the history ofMarxism, a part of thehistory of the internationalworkers’move- ment,andanessentialpieceofthepoliticalhistoryofEurope.ThevalueofAus- tromarxist philosophical, sociological, economic, political, andcultural ideas remainsthesubjectofresearchanddebate.Evenifhistorythwartedthevision of Austromarxism, this does not diminish its real gains as a politicalmove- ment.9Bauer’scontributiontothesegainscannotpossiblybeoverestimated. importance to titles,wealth,orpersonaladvantage, andhe livedaccording to thevalueshe preached. 9 Someof theAustromarxists’ achievements include: encouragement of theoretical and sci- entific interest,culturalandsportactivity,educationinthespiritof ideologicalandreligious tolerance,theintroductionofintellectualismintoworking-classandpetty-bourgeoismilieus, schoolandhealthreforms,social legislation,andhousingandrecreational facilities.