The Dilemma of Democratic Socialism. Eduard Bernstein's Challenge to Marx. Paperback – January 1, 1970
by Peter Gay (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 3 ratings
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R. Albin
4.0 out of 5 stars Concise, Interesting, Useful
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2011
An early and interesting book from the distinguished historian Peter Gay. This book is a concise discussion of the life and thought of Eduard Bernstein, the originator of Revisionist socialism. In addition to its nice coverage of Bernstein, this book is useful for understanding the history of the great German Social Democratic Party (SPD). The book is divided into 3 sections. Gay opens with a concise narrative of Bernstein's life up the development of Revisionism. Born into an assimilated Jewish family, Bernstein came from a modest background and became involved in the socialist movement at a young age. He became a prominent figure in one of the major German socialist groups, had to go into exile during Bismarck's persecution of the Socialists, and spent prolonged sojourns in Switzerland and England. In exile, he became the editor of the chief Socialist paper and an even more important figure in the SPD. Bernstein was an adherent of Marx and was personally close to Engels. He played a significant role in the Marxist orientation of the SPD. In the 1890s, however, general prosperity and the success of the SPD in German politics falsified a number of Marx's predictions. Bernstein set out to provide a more realistic doctrine for German socialism.
The middle of the book is devoted to a discussion of Revisionism. This includes a brief sketch of the Marxist background, a nice exposition of Bernstein's doctrines, a thoughtful discussion of the social background of Revisionism, and the reception of Revisionism in the German socialist movement. Revisionism involved abandonment of Marx's Hegelianism, including his model of history, a highly modified view of capitalism, and a strong commitment to democratic reformism and avoidance of revolutionary violence. As Gay points out, Revisionism fit well into the evolution of the Socialist movement because of the relative success of socialist trade unions and the SPD as a political force. Bernstein's ideas, nonetheless, were a source of considerable controversy and Bernstein became alienated from a number of his former friends.
The final section of the book is a concise narrative of Bernstein's later career and the history of the SPD during and after WWI. This covers the decision of the SPD to support the Reich government in the war, the great party schism, and Bernstein's principled dissent. While Bernstein did initially support the party consensus, he subsequently made the courageous decision to leave the party and dissent from the war. After the war, he was an outspoken critic who stressed German culpability for starting the war. Even after he rejoined the party and was re-elected to the Reichstag, he was a marginal figure in the party. Bernstein was equally vocal in denouncing the Bolsheviks (as was his old friend, the more orthodox Marxist Karl Kautsky). Bernstein was born just after the failed 1848 revolutions and died a few months prior to Hitler's accession to power. His life captures a great deal of the history of socialism in Germany.
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11 people found this helpful
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Wayfaring Stranger
4.0 out of 5 stars Good work
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2013
Peter Gay's works on German history are always very much worth reading, and I found his early study on Eduard Bernstein useful as well. The book deals with Bernstein's life and thinking, with latter chapters focusing on reformist socialism. Now Bernstein's original works on reformism can be somewhat difficult, which is why this book is so valuable to a modern reader. Peter Gay covers the various aspects of Bernstein's theory in a clear manner without any ideological distortions, giving readers a good idea of what Bernstein was all about. The book was written in the 1950s, but as far as I can see it hasn't lost any of its relevancy.
3 people found this helpful
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Ike Sharpless rated it really liked it
Shelves: reviewed, socialism, political-philosophy, intellectual-history
An excellent overview of an important and nuanced figure who sadly gets drowned out in the capitalist-v-socialist poo throwing competition. What I most remember about this book, though, is that I was reading it on an airplane and the person next to me was reading Confessions of a Teenage Shopaholic. Go figure.
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