The German Experience of Professionalization
Modern Learned Professions and their Organizations from the Early Nineteenth Century to the Hitler Era

An exploration of the experience of the modern learned professions in Germany up to World War II.

Charles E. McClelland (Author)

9780521394574, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 June 1991

268 pages
23.6 x 15.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.53 kg

"Logically organized and clearly written, the book provides a comparative view of German professionalization. In discussing this process, McClelland examines in detail various professionalization theories and their validity for German developments. The result is an excellent single-volume introduction to the professions in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Germany....With its comparative description of the major professions and thorough discussion of professionalization issues, The German Experience of Professionalization is a highly accessible history of modern German academic occupations. It will be an invaluable source of information for anyone interested in these occupations and the German middle classes." Vincent A. Clark, German Studies Review

Modern learned professions (medicine, law, teaching, engineering, and others) developed in central Europe just as vigorously as in England or America. Yet their close relationship with state power - more typical of the world development of professions than the Anglo-American model - led to a different historical experience of professionalization. This work is the first to explore that experience in a comprehensive way from the time when modern learned professions arose until the eve of World War II. Based on the history and surviving records of German professional organizations, it shows how the learned professions emerged gradually in the nineteenth century from the shadow of strong state regulation to achieve a high degree of autonomy and control over professional standards by the First World War. By studying professional groups collectively, it gives a more contoured picture of their fate under National Socialism than works dedicated primarily to the phenomenon of fascism itself.

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Part I. The Problem of Professions in Germany: 1. Introduction
2. Problems and methods in the history of modern German professions
Part II. The Transition to Modern Professions in the Early Nineteenth Century: 3. The beginnings of modern professions in Germany
4. Professions between revolution and unification
Part III. Unified Professions in a Unified Germany?
5. The organization of the 'free' professions: medicine, law, engineering, and chemistry
6. Organization of state-service professions: teachers and the clergy
7. Professional credentials in the new Reich
Part IV. Breakthrough and Breakdowns: The Professions Enter the Era of Cartels and Unions: 8. The 'free' professions, 1900–1918
9. Law-based professions, 1900–1918
Part V. The Weimar era: 10. The 'free' professions under Weimar
11. Professions based on law and pedagogy in the Weimar era
Part VI. The Fate of Professions Under and After Fascism: 12. Collaboration, coordination, and professionalization
13. Conclusion
A word about sources
Index.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], European history [HBJD]