Karl Lueger
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Karl Lueger (IPA [luˈegɐ] not [lyːgɐ]) (October 24, 1844-March 10, 1910) was an Austrian politician and mayor of Vienna, known for his skills as an administrator.
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[edit] Career
Born in Vienna, he graduated in law from the University of Vienna (receiving his doctorate in 1870). He founded and led the Christian Social Party which took political power from the German Liberals in Vienna and combated the Social Democrats. A faction in the Austrian parliament, the Christian Social Party won Vienna city council in 1895 and subsequently helped Lueger win mayoralty. After three refusals, Emperor Franz Josef (who allegedly loathed him as a person) finally sanctioned his election in 1897. He was the mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910.
[edit] Performance as Municipal Administrator
He proved to be an outstandingly good mayor of Vienna as far as municipal organisation and politics go. A significant part of the infrastructure and organisations that are responsible for the high standard of living in contemporary Vienna - such as the second main aquifer (Hochquellwasserleitung) which provides tap water of mineral water quality to large parts of the city, and the integrated public transport system owned by the municipality - were created during his terms of office.
This part of his legacy is the reason why he is generally viewed as a positive figure in Viennese history.
[edit] Further influence on Austrian politics
His general style of politics later inspired some of the right-wing leaders of the Austrian first republic in 1918-1933, such as Ignaz Seipel, Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt Schuschnigg. Unlike with Adolf Hitler, he did not so much inspire antisemitism in them (none of these three were particularly anti-semitic), but rather provided one important role model for their generally combative, unrelenting stance towards ideological political opponents (especially socialists). This ultimately proved to be highly detrimental to the cohesion of the Austrian first republic as a whole.
The three politicians mentioned here also played decisive roles in the Austrian Ständestaat. This was a right-wing, authoritarian government (1933-1938), which was unilaterally and forcibly established by the political right after the first republic failed in 1933.
[edit] Other views on his character
Known for his antisemitism, Lueger was seen by Adolf Hitler as an inspiration for his own virulent hatred of anything Jewish. He also advocated racist policies against all non-German speaking minorities in Austria-Hungary. He voted, in 1887, for Georg Ritter von Schönerer's proposed bill to restrict the immigration of Russian and Romanian Jews. He was an admirer of Édouard Drumont.
He also overtly supported the Guido-von-List-Society (Guido-von-List-Gesellschaft), an occult nationalist society of disputed intellectual standing.
Some observers believe that Lueger's public racism was in large part a pose to obtain votes. Historian William L. Shirer wrote that "…his opponents, including the Jews, readily conceded that he was at heart a decent, chivalrous, generous and tolerant man."[1]
Viennese writer Stefan Zweig (who was himself Jewish, and who grew up in Vienna during Lueger's term of office) recalled that "His city administration was perfectly just and even typically democratic."[2]
[edit] References
- ^ William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-72868-7.
- ^ Stefan Zweig (1964). The World of Yesterday. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-5224-2.
[edit] External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry
- Photo of the monument to Karl Lueger in Dr-Karl-Lueger-Platz, Vienna
| Preceded by Josef Strobach |
Mayor of Vienna 1897–1910 |
Succeeded by Josef Neumayer |
