Economic Theory and National Purpose

Extract

As time goes on the full scope of the National Socialist movement in Germany becomes apparent to the outside world. The abolition of democratic institutions and the assumption of supreme power by the Führer were not surprising in principle to observers in foreign countries, though they were startling to many in their completeness and ferocity. Similarly, we were more or less prepared for the withdrawal from the League of Nations, and the changes in foreign policy associated with it. But I do not think it was generally expected that the movement would include a reform of education, not in such matters as methods of teaching but in regard to the content of the subjects taught. To those who are accustomed to regard the truth or falsity of the subject-matter of education as independent of the political character of the government this comes as something of a shock. A remarkable series of pamphlets under the general title Der Deutsche Staat der Gegenwart deals with some of these “reforms”, particularly as applied to the subjects of law and economics. Volume XV of the series is entitled Das Studium der Wirtschaftswissenschaft and describes the new curriculum of economic studies. It gives the new curriculum itself, in some detail, and contains, as well, addresses by Professors Dr. Eckhart, Gottl-Ottlilienfeld, and Wiskemann which reveal, sometimes as through a glass darkly, the ideas underlying the “reform”.