The cold face of democracy: Democratic practices in Germany during the inter-war period

The aim of this study is to reveal the different practices of democracy and dictatorship through an examination of the administrative systems in Germany between 1919 and 1945. In the first chapter, the concept and theories of sovereignty are discussed while also paying attention to the concept and theories of state. Additionally, the rise and types of democracy, starting from Ancient Greece and Rome to our day, are studied. The ideological aspects of democracy are also included and democracy is observed within the frameworks of liberalism, fascism, and National Socialism. Furthermore, the development of human rights is touched upon alongside with rights and liberties. In the second chapter, the history of Germany is viewed from a broad perspective; the confederation era, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the Nazi Germany are focused on. The political system and the elections that took place between 1919 and World War II are also dealt with. Weimar Constitution is investigated; constitutional gaps are discussed; the financial, political and sociological changes in Germany after the World War I, in the presence of Treaty of Versailles, are underlined and the reasons that formed the basis for dictatorship are analysed. The political, legal, ideological, psychological, financial, and diplomatic reasons that accelerated the collapse of democracy are emphasized; and several inferences are made regarding the German society and the Nazi Government. This process that Germany experienced between the years of 1919 and 1945 resulted in many political and sociological changes, caused Germany's separation into East and West Germany, and culminated in the construction of Berlin Wall which is the symbol of the bipolar system.