German elections in a Kaiserreich scenario

[Friedrich der Große]

What would be the electoral consequences of a Kaiserreich-like scenario in Germany? How would the Reichstag elections develop after WW1 en further into the future? Will there be a united conservative people’s party composed of the traditional conservative Deutschkonservatieve Partei (DKP) and the more national-conservative German Imperial Party (DRP) and so a battle between this and the Social democratic party (SPD), as IOTL happened between the SPD and DNVP in the 1920s?

Also: will there be large far-right and far-left parties in the Reichstag as happened IOTL in the Weimar Republic?

And off course the political consequences of this. Will there be a sort of democratization of the German Empire and a reform of the Prussian voting system?

 

[BiasHangover]

What would be the electoral consequences of a Kaiserreich-like scenario in Germany? How would the Reichstag elections develop after WW1 en further into the future? Will there be a united conservative people’s party composed of the traditional conservative Deutschkonservatieve Partei (DKP) and the more national-conservative German Imperial Party (DRP) and so a battle between this and the Social democratic party (SPD), as IOTL happened between the SPD and DNVP in the 1920s?

Also: will there be large far-right and far-left parties in the Reichstag as happened IOTL in the Weimar Republic?

And off course the political consequences of this. Will there be a sort of democratization of the German Empire and a reform of the Prussian voting system?

At least one of clarity benefits of this time, is a clear definition of far right and far left. DNVP and ultranationalists would be near irrelevant.

So you'd have competition between Prussian conservatives and Social democrats. Considering how strong SPD was by 1918, I'd guess they would have multiple administrations post-war.

Bonus: When Austria-Hungary collapses, an integrated Austria would shift it, Deutsche Conservative V Zentrum V SPD.

 

[Friedrich der Große]

At least one of clarity benefits of this time, is a clear definition of far right and far left. DNVP and ultranationalists would be near irrelevant.

Indeed. I meant the German Fatherland Party (if they even would take part of the elections because that was not there goal), and off course the anti-semitic and ultranationalist elements with far-right. And the communists with far-left.

So you'd have competition between Prussian conservatives and Social democrats. Considering how strong SPD was by 1918, I'd guess they would have multiple administrations post-war.

Agreed but doubtful how influential. How would the political system be reformed? That’s the main question in this I think.

Can we see two types of government clashing: the sort of OTL Weimar-democratic Coalition (SPD, Zentrum, FVP) vs. the conservative, authoritarian and right-wing coalition (DKP, DRP, maybe DVLP and Zentrum if the right-wing gets in charge there).

Bonus: When Austria-Hungary collapses, an integrated Austria would shift it, Deutsche Conservative V Zentrum V SPD.

Let’s say AH will not collapse.

 

[Riain]

IIUC the Federal level wasn't the problem, but rather the states and the Kaiser announced un 1917 that the franchise in Prussia would be reformed after the war.

So at the Federal level there might be no significant changes other than voter behaviour caused by the war. However the political environment might be very different because of reform at the state level.

 

[oberdada]

They'd likely just add new districts to the existing 399 from 1869 without redrawing boundaries and keep the FPTP system with run-off as long as possible to keep the social democrats out of power.
Without the foreign extreme pressure as in OTL to change the Regime in order to get a cease fire, a revolution or a coup the conservative powers will not simply fade.
If the war is won, this will strengthen the Kaiser.
And also the right wing of the SPD, that will not only absorb most of the active USPD members, but also a much larger part of the voters.

 

[Michel Van]

On short time the SPD gain votes after ww1, but could lose on long time
it depends on several factors
if Emperor Wilhelm II. is willing to fulfil his vage promise of social reforms, he made before the war.
How the Zentrum party evolving special with certain Konrad Adenauer in party during 1920s.

if Wilhelm II. agree on necessary reforms or Adenauer do this as chancellor during 1920s.
it will take allot momentum from SPD who in that time is a reformist party.
something similar happen under Weimarer Republic that initialised the necessary reforms in Reich.
were SPD start to loose voters during 1920s, later in 1930s they not could solve the Economic crisis in Germany losing more voters.

Extremist Party like NSDAP, Communist would have no chance in post war Kaiserreich, why should some vote for them ? the war is won !
and DNVP would remain a pet project by Alfred Hugenberg, it disappear in 1951 after Hagenberg death...

 

[Nivek]

How would the Reichstag elections develop after WW1 en further into the future

Much the same was pre-war i think the worst for SPD would be even winning an election, them getting issue passing legislation, they would crash and burn in the post war era.

Again a lot depends how the war end, if a victory the conservatives party will be strengthened, if a tie/negotiated peace them the Zentrum and spd would get more power

How the Zentrum party evolving special with certain Konrad Adenauer in party during 1920s.

if Wilhelm II. agree on necessary reforms or Adenauer do this as chancellor during 1920s.

Konrad was a nobody in the 20's and would be more in a victorious Germany, a man already being a pariah among the general populace by being an infamous Rhenish separatism, with a reform of the voting system, when Zentrum would get power, the party itself would out Konrad as political poison

 

[Riain]

Even if one party such as the SPD gains the majority of seats in the Reichstag it won't 'take power' because the executive is separate from the legislature in the German federal system. The Kaiser selected the executive, usually people who held offices in Prussia.

 

[Lalli]

Bonus: When Austria-Hungary collapses, an integrated Austria would shift it, Deutsche Conservative V Zentrum V SPD.

If A-H collapses. It is not certain in CP victory world. Nationalities vere pretty loyal to Habsburgs close of end in OTL. Of course Hungary is going to be big problem when Karl I tries reforms the system.

And even if A-H collapses I am not so sure about annexation to Germany. Prussian nobility had pretty strong objection to add Catholic nation to Germany. They might even stop such things or even delay that several decades.

 

[oberdada]

Konrad was a nobody in the 20's and would be more in a victorious Germany, a man already being a pariah among the general populace by being an infamous Rhenish separatism, with a reform of the voting system, when Zentrum would get power, the party itself would out Konrad as political poison

He wasn't a nobody.
Major of the 4th largest city and head of Prussians second chamber.
Adenauer being chancellor in Weimar has become a cliché on ah.com, but he was considered three times in OTL.
He likely would be less successful in an imperial Germany, but his political career did not start in 1918 either.

 

[sarahz]

Indeed. I meant the German Fatherland Party (if they even would take part of the elections because that was not there goal), and off course the anti-semitic and ultranationalist elements with far-right. And the communists with far-left.


Agreed but doubtful how influential. How would the political system be reformed? That’s the main question in this I think.

Can we see two types of government clashing: the sort of OTL Weimar-democratic Coalition (SPD, Zentrum, FVP) vs. the conservative, authoritarian and right-wing coalition (DKP, DRP, maybe DVLP and Zentrum if the right-wing gets in charge there).


Let’s say AH will not collapse.

hmm in a victorious Germany i would be surprised if the extremes did nearly as well as OTL. one would expect if the franchise in Prussia is reformed and the system overall reformed that Zentrum and maybe the remaining Liberals would tend left to compete for the likely larger pools of votes in those parts of the electoral map.

 

[Friedrich der Große]

hmm in a victorious Germany i would be surprised if the extremes did nearly as well as OTL. one would expect if the franchise in Prussia is reformed and the system overall reformed that Zentrum and maybe the remaining Liberals would tend left to compete for the likely larger pools of votes in those parts of the electoral map.

Or maybe the DKP or DRP. There were much talks in these parties to reform into a conservative people’s party (sort of a protestant equivalent of the Zentrum). Wouldn’t such a party be dominant in Prussia (at least the areas east from the Elbe).

Also interesting is Bavaria, IOTL a hotspot of far-right, but that was also because of the far-left Bavarian socialist republics. Because these republics will not appear ITTL, question is how strong the far-right will be here.

In general I think we can agree that Prussia on the east of the Elbe is THE hotspot of the right-wing parties, as it was IOTL?

 

[sarahz]

Or maybe the DKP or DRP. There were much talks in these parties to reform into a conservative people’s party (sort of a protestant equivalent of the Zentrum). Wouldn’t such a party be dominant in Prussia (at least the areas east from the Elbe).

Also interesting is Bavaria, IOTL a hotspot of far-right, but that was also because of the far-left Bavarian socialist republics. Because these republics will not appear ITTL, question is how strong the far-right will be here.

In general I think we can agree that Prussia on the east of the Elbe is THE hotspot of the right-wing parties, as it was IOTL?

I would agree that if the right has a future it needs to become somewhat more collectivist in terms of making an offer to the working and middle classes. Here Catholic social doctrine probably gives them the edge over Protestant versions, but i cant see any fundamental reason it cant be done.