‘in the Years Before Ww1 Germany Was Progressing Towards an Effective Democracy’ How Far Do You Agree?
‘In the years before WW1 Germany was progressing towards an effective democracy’ how far do you agree?
Germany before WW1 had a climate that possible could have led them to follow democracy. After all the biggest party in Reichstag was a democratic party and there was a constitution. Along with this the voting system was fairly progressed giving votes to most men and turnouts for these elections had increased showing political participation to be increasing along with general interest in politics. It is for these reasons that one may argue that Germany was moving towards a democracy before WW1. However despite there being democratic elements within the German government, these features actually posed a threat democracy through counteracting the changes that would have led to it. For example although a constitution existed in Germany, this constitution made it possible for the Kaiser to rule Germany in an almost authoritarian manner and therefore stop any change in it’s path. Furthermore whether or not the SDP was the most supported party in Germany is also debatable due to the Hottentot election. Rigidity of the Kaiser’s powers, the inability for those in authority to suppress those power and urge for change and the fact that the SDP may not have been as supported as was once thought are all reason that has led to the conclusion that Germany was in a state of political stalemate before the war and the layout of the government was n such a way that a democratic Germany seemed an almost impossible achievement.
Although the Kaiser was definitely the figure head in German society before the war he did have a framework in which he had work in, this was created in 1871 and was set out in an entrenched constitution making it very hard for him to stray from. Not only this by the Kaiser could not simply ignore the Reichstag, it did have power to endorse or reject legislation including finance bills. Moreover not only did Germany have a somewhat fair political system but
Germany before WW1 had a climate that possible could have led them to follow democracy. After all the biggest party in Reichstag was a democratic party and there was a constitution. Along with this the voting system was fairly progressed giving votes to most men and turnouts for these elections had increased showing political participation to be increasing along with general interest in politics. It is for these reasons that one may argue that Germany was moving towards a democracy before WW1. However despite there being democratic elements within the German government, these features actually posed a threat democracy through counteracting the changes that would have led to it. For example although a constitution existed in Germany, this constitution made it possible for the Kaiser to rule Germany in an almost authoritarian manner and therefore stop any change in it’s path. Furthermore whether or not the SDP was the most supported party in Germany is also debatable due to the Hottentot election. Rigidity of the Kaiser’s powers, the inability for those in authority to suppress those power and urge for change and the fact that the SDP may not have been as supported as was once thought are all reason that has led to the conclusion that Germany was in a state of political stalemate before the war and the layout of the government was n such a way that a democratic Germany seemed an almost impossible achievement.
Although the Kaiser was definitely the figure head in German society before the war he did have a framework in which he had work in, this was created in 1871 and was set out in an entrenched constitution making it very hard for him to stray from. Not only this by the Kaiser could not simply ignore the Reichstag, it did have power to endorse or reject legislation including finance bills. Moreover not only did Germany have a somewhat fair political system but