Vienna'S 'Respectable' Antisemites: A Study of the Christian Social Movement

This book presents a radical reconsideration of the role of key players in developing an organised, politically oriented antisemitism in Vienna in the decades leading to the 1938 Anschluss. It pays particular attention to the clergy and how their antisemitism fitted the worldview of an authoritarian, hierarchical society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2021
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Vienna's "respectable antisemites" presents a groundbreaking challenge to traditional narratives of one of the city's darkest chapters: the emergence of organized, politically motivated antisemitism between the late-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. Through extensive original research into the Christian Social movement, the book delves into how factors such as nationalism, widespread poverty, and social unrest paved the way for the emergence of antisemitism within "respectable society," an ideology that appeared to be on the decline in the 1860s but gained renewed vigor from the 1880s. It offers a compelling rebuttal to portrayals of the lower clergy as a marginalized group that resorted to anti-liberal, antisemitic actions in response to liberal attacks, while also shedding light on the supportive role played by senior clergy. As the book reveals, the entire Church in Vienna was resolutely committed to countering liberalism, to the point of welcoming any authoritarian regime that would pursue such a goal.

Introduction:
The rise of organized, politically directed antisemitism in Vienna between the late-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries is a complex and often overlooked aspect of the city's history. Conventional accounts tend to portray the lower clergy as a marginalized group that was driven to defend itself from liberal attacks by turning to anti-liberal, antisemitic action. This portrayal overlooks the fact that the Church in Vienna, as a whole, was determined to counter liberalism and welcomed any authoritarian regime that would do so.

The Christian Social Movement:
The Christian Social movement was a political movement that emerged in Austria in the late-nineteenth century. It was characterized by its conservative, nationalist, and anti-liberal ideology. The movement was heavily influenced by the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and sought to restore traditional social and economic order in Austria.

Nationalism and Mass Poverty:
One of the key factors that enabled the emergence of antisemitism in Vienna was nationalism. The city was a major center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was composed of diverse ethnic and religious groups. The rise of nationalism in the late-nineteenth century led to a sense of superiority among some Austrians over other ethnic and religious groups, particularly Jews.

Social Unrest:
Another factor that contributed to the rise of antisemitism was social unrest. The Industrial Revolution in Europe had led to significant economic changes, which had resulted in widespread poverty and social inequality. This social unrest was particularly acute in Vienna, where the working class was heavily exploited and marginalized.

The Nurturing Role of Senior Clergy:
The senior clergy played a nurturing role in the development of antisemitism in Vienna. Many of the clergy were members of the Christian Social movement and were influenced by its conservative, nationalist, and anti-liberal ideology. The clergy were also deeply concerned about the social and economic challenges facing their congregations and saw Jews as a scapegoat for their problems.

The Church's Response to Liberalism:
The Church in Vienna was determined to counter liberalism and welcomed any authoritarian regime that would do so. The Church supported the establishment of authoritarian regimes in Austria, such as the Habsburg monarchy, which was characterized by its conservative, nationalist, and anti-liberal ideology. The Church also supported the policies of the Catholic Party, which was a conservative political party that was closely associated with the Church.

Conclusion:
Vienna's "respectable antisemites" offers a radical challenge to conventional accounts of one of the darkest periods in the city's history. The book reveals that the Church in Vienna was not a marginalized group that was driven to defend itself from liberal attacks by turning to anti-liberal, antisemitic action. Instead, the Church was a powerful force that was determined to counter liberalism and welcomed any authoritarian regime that would pursue such a goal. The book also sheds light on the nurturing role played by senior clergy in the development of antisemitism in Vienna.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526144867