Politische Öffentlichkeit und Zivilgesellschaft

The latest volume of the series "Die Habsburgermonarchie 1848–1918" was dedicated to constitutional questions and the history of parliamentary institutions; it therefore dealt with political elites. However, the question of how strong was the degree of and the potential for democratization has to be put to those social spheres and processes which exist beyond the sphere of discussions on constitutional matters and of parliamentary sittings. The "politicization of masses" took place in political and cultural milieus outside and beyond organized politics, milieus which were dominated by associations and local organizations held together by a communications system of a primarily local press. It was the activists coming out from steering committees of associations and of editorial offices who were responsible for the transformation from a traditional bureaucratic-feudal state to a civil state of the people. Associations, parties and the abundance of print-media were the "school" in which ordinary people learned and trained for what was necessary in politics.