Prussianism and Socialism

Spengler utilized the anti-English ideas addressed by Johann Plenge and Werner Sombart during World War I that condemned English liberalism and English parliamentarianism while advocating a nationalist socialism that was free from Marxism that would connect the individual to the state through corporatist organization. ==Prussian character and socialism==

Spengler claimed that socialistic Prussian characteristics existed across Germany that included creativity, discipline, concern for the greater good, productivity, and self-sacrifice. He also claimed that Otto von Bismarck's social policies were socialist in nature, and that they complemented his conservative policies rather than contradicted them as claimed by others. == Rebuke of Marxism and definition of "true socialism" ==

Spengler denounced Marxism for having developed socialism from an English perspective, while not understanding Germans' socialist nature. Spengler accused Marxism of following the British tradition in which the poor envy the rich, stating: "The socialism of a Fichte would accuse [those who don't work] of sloth, it would brand them as irresponsible, dispensable shirkers and parasites. But Marxian instinct envies them. They are too well-off, and therefore they should be revolted against. Marx has inoculated his proletariat with a contempt for work." == Reception ==

Historian Ishay Landa described the nature of "Prussian socialism" as decidedly capitalist. Landa observed that Spengler strongly opposed labor strikes (he described them as "the unsocialistic earmark of Marxism"), trade unions, progressive taxation, or any imposition of taxes on the rich, any shortening of the working day, as well as any form of government insurance for sickness, old age, accidents, or unemployment. Breuer described in the view of this assignment that "it is not surprising that the genuine, i.e. Prussian Socialism proclaimed by Spengler had extremely liberal features" and "this socialism presupposed a private economy with its old-Germanic joy in power." == References ==