Senji shakaishugi to "shoki gendai bunmei" Doitsu no shutsugen: Daiichiji Sekai Taisen to kindai no shuen. (Japanese)

During World War I, a phenomenon that diverged greatly from the framework of the 19th century "Pax Britannica" world, which has been termed by historian Ishii Norie as the "early contemporary syndrome," emerged in earnest among the European countries embroiled in total war. This phenomenon included such aspects as the advent of mass democracy, monopoly capitalism (or at least state economic control relative to the advancement of monopoly capitalism), and a social welfare system, anticipating 20th century state intervention in solving social issues. It was in Germany where this "syndrome" emerged most sharply, and also in Germany where Marxian theorists affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) attempted to study the "syndrome" most systematically and explore its historical significance. This article, which focuses on Paul Lensch, the architect of a conceptual system called "wartime socialism" that placed World War I in the positive context of a socialist world revolution, is an attempt to trace once again his ideological struggle with the "early contemporary syndrome" during the War. Although Lensch was known before the War as a leftist theorist rivaling the likes of Rosa Luxemburg, as the conflict progressed, he changed his stance and supported it. However, Lensch's turn-around proves to be not as simple as the "about-face to social exclusionism" described by Lenin. Rather, Lensch continued his efforts to discover the historical meaning of the War and clearly postulate the "end of the modern era" from the standpoint of socialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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