Different Views of Socialization Strategies in Germany Since the First Socialization Debate

The socialization of resources and economic activities was intensely discussed in Germany during the 19th century and after the First World War. The following article aims at analysing determinant factors of the former debate and at demonstrating reasons for a new debate on socialization in the “European Future”. The introduction and short remarks on strategies of socialization are followed by comments on the concepts of selected authors about the process of socialization. At first, some of Franz Eulenburg’s publications from after the First World War are presented. They dealt with diverse measures to cultivate economic life towards socialist order. Three problems are identified: wealth, distribution, and power. The author wants to investigate the logic of socialization, the metapolitical aspect behind concrete measures. He also identifies a decisive production problem: how to reduce the “dead weight costs” of socialization? Eulenburg presumes that the socialization program can be carried out through a long-term process of organic development only, that is to say, not revolution, but evolution! The second author considered is Eduard Heimann. The comments on his studies of capitalism and socialist order demonstrate Heimann’s conceptual ideas on sociological unification of the people and central economic planning. Bookkeeping is recommended as a most important instrument for decision making. The author basically distinguishes “Socialism from below” and “Socialism from above”, both being necessary for an efficient and social economic order. According to Heimann it should be possible to realize a socialist order based on “Freedom in Gemeinschaft”. Furthermore, three authors of the later 20th century are considered: Schumpeter (1946), Rittig (1956), Novy (1978). Schumpeter’s statement that the socialist democracy will not imply any considerable approach to the ideals of classical theory, may also be recognised as a basic point of discussion in Rittig’s articles on socialization (1956 ff) and in Novy’s monograph on strategies of socialization. According to Novy, there will be no easy way of reforms out of capitalism towards a functioning socialism. On the whole, the subsequent article points out in a nutshell that the considered authors prefer a long-term process of socialization based on solid economic theory that allows for effective measures of economic and social policy to open the door for the future development of peaceful socialization.